Pennsylvania

Gunman Kills Elderly Corner Store Owner Inside Her Philadelphia Corner Store on Christmas Eve

Neighbors called the victim 'Aunt Marie' and remembered her sharp wit & caring attitude

A man dressed in all black gunned down a beloved 81-year-old woman inside the Philadelphia corner store she owned for decades on Christmas Eve.

Police responded to Marie’s Grocery Store at S 6th and Titan streets in South Philadelphia around 8:50 a.m. Saturday to find Marie Buck suffering from multiple gunshot wounds, said investigators.

Medics rushed Buck -- who lived on the block -- to Jefferson Hospital where she died a short time later, said police.

The gunman -- who wore a black hoodie -- got away after firing about one dozen shots, said police. An 89-year-old woman was also working in the store at the time of the shooting, said police. [[408157545, C]]

Buck's family said she owned the store for the past 44 years.

NBC10 cameras captured people crying outside the taped-off store. Many people in the neighborhood called her "Aunt Marie."

"She took care of everybody," said Angela Sweeney, Buck's great niece.

"When you were short changed, or whatever, she'd help you out that's the type of person she is," said longtime customer Wanda.

Police didn’t immediately have a motive for the shooting but robbery didn't appear to be a reason considering the gunman took nothing from the store. Neighbors and family said the store had never been robbed before.

Investigators hoped surveillance video from nearby could help in the search for the killer. Anyone with information is asked to contact Philadelphia Police.

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