Clerk’s death shocks store patrons

Clerk’s death shocks store patrons
Victim identified; no arrests made
By Michael Corcoran, Globe Correspondent | December 28, 2009

Business owners and customers yesterday mourned the death of convenience store clerk Surendra Dangoi, identified as the victim of a weekend shooting in Jamaica Plain.

Dangoi was shot at about 3 p.m. Saturday while working at the Tedeschi Food Shop at Eliot and Centre streets in an apparent robbery, police said. He was later pronounced dead at Brigham and Women’s Hospital.

Early yesterday, the store, which is across from the Soldiers Monument at the end of a long string of businesses in Jamaica Plain center, was closed for inventory, according to a sign on its door.

A crime-scene cleanup company van was parked outside, and bouquets of flowers lay at the store’s entrance. On the pavement just in front of the store was a purple-and-white message that read “Stop violence, create [peace]’’ with a drawing of a dove.

By early yesterday afternoon, the store reopened. Employees deferred questions to the Tedeschi corporate office, which did not return several phone calls but released a brief statement from its president, Peter Tedeschi.

“We at Tedeschi Food Shops are deeply saddened by the loss of Surendra Dangoi, as the result of this senseless act of violence. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and loved ones during this very difficult time,’’ the statement said.

Police have released pictures obtained from the store’s security cameras, depicting a suspect who they said probably fled the scene with the help of a getaway driver. No arrests have been made.

“We are still asking the community to help us locate the suspects,’’ said Officer Joe Zanoli, a spokesman for the Boston Police Department.

Dangoi’s age and address were not released yesterday. It also was not clear how long he had been employed at the convenience store.

Neighbors expressed disbelief at the news of the shooting.

“I go to that store to buy the paper every day, and I always see those boys,’’ said Margaret Leblanc, a resident of Jamaica Plain for 45 years. “It is horrible to hear about this kind of violence happening so close to home. What a world we live in.’’

Harry Dhoci, the co-owner of JP House of Pizza, just a few buildings down from the Tedeschi shop, said the killing is a warning for small businesses to be careful when faced with violence.

“You have to give them the money, not be aggressive, and stay alive. Give them whatever they want,’’ he said. “I have a wife and a kid. That is the real important thing. That is far more important than money.’’

Dhoci said he would not change his security measures, but would continue to preach common sense and caution to his employees.

“I have been here five years and we have never had a problem,’’ he said. “But something like this, it can happen to anyone.’’