ELIZABETH — Video surveillance showing two masked men being sought in the fatal shooting of a Rahway sneaker store owner was released by authorities Friday with an appeal to the public for help as the anniversary of the slaying nears.
Jamal Gaines, 21, was working at East Coast Boutique about 9 p.m. on Feb. 26, 2016 when two armed men entered through a rear utility door and a fight ensued.
Gaines, the co-owner of the Irving Street store, was shot and killed during the struggle.
One of the gunmen wore a light-colored hooded sweatshirt, blue jeans, and brown or beige shoes. The other work a dark hooded sweatshirt with a light-colored patch on the left arm and dark pants, light-colored sneakers, acting Union County Prosecutor Grace Park said. Both men brandished handguns and both had their faces covered with some fabric, Park said.
The two men ran out of the building the same way they came in, and they were captured on a surveillance camera footage rushing down a rear alley, with one of the two having a pronounced limp.
Gaines was known as a popular and hard-working entrepreneur who valued his family.
Authorities are asking that anybody with information about the shooting to call Union County Homicide Task Force Sgt. Michael Manochio at (908) 966-2287 or Detective Sofia Santos at (908) 577-4256.
Tom Haydon may be reached at thaydon@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @Tom_HaydonSL. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
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