In the evening hours of June 4, 2024, a tragic and violent incident unfolded at the Tienda Los Hermanos, a grocery store on Troy Highway in Montgomery, Alabama, resulting in the death of 20-year-old Daniel Lopez. Daniel, a Hispanic male, was at the store with his father, 43-year-old Romero Lopez, when the shooting occurred. A family friend, 50-year-old George Elijah Jr., was also present at the time.
The event was part of what city officials described as a series of crimes targeting Hispanic-owned businesses.
According to reports, Montgomery police and paramedics responded to a shooting call at the grocery store at approximately 9 p.m. Upon arrival, they discovered three victims with life-threatening gunshot wounds. Daniel Lopez and George Elijah Jr. were pronounced dead at the scene. Daniel's father, Romero Lopez, was transported to a local hospital where he later succumbed to his injuries. The store owner, who was Romero Lopez's sister, had reportedly left the premises just moments before the fatal shooting.
The investigation into the triple homicide led to the identification of two suspects. On July 2, 2024, 18-year-old Jarques Butler was apprehended by law enforcement after a brief foot chase. He was subsequently charged with two counts of capital murder, with a third count expected. Butler is being held at the Montgomery County Detention Facility without bail.
A second suspect, 18-year-old DeQundray Danell Savage, was also arrested and charged in connection with the triple murder. Savage was already in the Montgomery County Detention Center on unrelated charges when he was charged with capital murder of two or more people and capital murder in the course of a robbery for his alleged involvement in the grocery store shooting. The motive for the attack is believed to have been robbery. In the wake of the tragic event, a significant reward was offered for information leading to the arrest and prosecution of those responsible, with contributions from the Montgomery City Council, the Mayor, and Central Alabama CrimeStoppers.
