East Mt. Airy shop owner shot dead

An East Mount Airy store owner whom neighbors affectionately called Ms. Kim was shot and killed yesterday afternoon on the sidewalk outside her corner shop.

Police arrested Nicole Dolby-Beckam, 27, of Philadelphia, on homicide and weapons charges. They declined to release the name or age of the victim.

Neighbors said the alleged shooter was a woman who wore a wig and called police from a pay phone after the shooting outside Andy's Food Market in the 6700 block of Chew Avenue. The alleged shooter was not familiar to them, neighbors said.

Although some people knew the victim for many years, no one called her by, nor could anyone recall, her first name. She was described as a firm but kindhearted woman who allowed shoppers who were short 10 cents, 25 cents, or even a dollar to take their merchandise and pay later.

She ran the store with her husband, who was inside at the time of the shooting. Because of her policies in the store, she was rarely robbed, neighbors said.

"Everybody loved Ms. Kim. She was sweet," said Shelonda Dargan, 27, of the 100 block of Phil-Ellena Street.

"She would know you by face, and she would put what you came in for on the counter," said Trina Brown, 40, of the 200 block of Phil-Ellena.

"There wasn't a need to steal from her," Brown said.

Brown, Dargan, and Priscilla Worthey gathered yesterday evening outside the store at Chew Avenue and Phil-Ellena Street. Lena Webb, Jazmine Bradshaw, and several teenage girls brought stuffed animals to create a memorial in front of the store. They had known the victim since they were children.

Message boards were placed against the locked store with the comments the "Neighborhood Luvs U!" and "We'll Miss You."