Highland store owner speaks about killings, justice
Joe Nelson, Staff Writer
Article Launched: 11/17/2008 10:45:14 PM PST
HIGHLAND - The killings were cold and callous - two lives taken for a little money and some lottery tickets.
On March 16, 2005, two men walked into Cee Vee's Liquor Store and Couch Potato Video in the 7700 block of Palm Avenue, and robbed, at gunpoint, 54-year-old store owner Steve Hall and 25-year-old clerk Brian Gregorio. When it was all done, Hall and Gregorio lay dead from gunshot wounds.
Those wounds bled deep into the surrounding neighborhood and community. Many still speak of the crime as if it were yesterday.
"I'd say every couple of days somebody brings it up. People still remember, three years later," said Bill Haddad, who bought the liquor store following Hall's death.
Many of the regulars who knew Hall well remained faithful to the business once Haddad took it over. For some, the memories were too painful, and they're just now starting to return after three years, Haddad said.
"A lot of people still come in and talk about him. They remember where the old counter was. They remember when the videos were there. It just brings back memories every time," Haddad said.
Opening statements began Monday in the trial of two men charged with murder. A third is acting as his own attorney and is being tried separately.
"They need to pay for what they did and the two wonderful lives they took from families," Haddad said. "It's not going to bring them back, but it's some kind of justice."
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