Family of Slain Store Owner Reopens Dollar Club Plus

Karim Khamarko was shot twice in his discount store on Hilton Road during the evening of . He died shortly after. For the next two weeks, the only thing that lit the , where the crime took place, were the candles of the makeshift memorial that family, friends and neighbors had constructed.

Last week, however, that changed when the Khamarko family reopened the store.

"We decided to reopen the store for several reasons," said Khamarko's son, Kevin. "But, ultimately, we knew that is what our dad would have wanted."

The 64-year-old storeowner operated a business in Ferndale for 15 years, 10 years at the Hilton Road location. The Dollar Club Plus building started as a video store – located originally on Woodward Heights – and, as video rentals waned, Karim Khamarko switched it over to a discount retail store.

"Since (we've reopened), many community members have come in to share their memories of my dad and give their condolences," Kevin Khamarko said. "We are very thankful for the support from the Ferndale community."

According to police, Karim Khamarko was shot sometime between 8:35 p.m. and 8:55 p.m. in a robbery that went wrong. Police said the shooter either walked or ran from the store because there was no sign of a vehicle.

"(Neighborhood) tips are slowly and steadily coming in," . "People might remember something. They may not think it's anything important, but it might be something (for investigators)."

The police are not releasing any details about the suspect – or suspects. "We can't say it was just one," Jones said. "We're looking into everything and everybody at this point."

A $15,000 reward was issued for information leading to the arrest and conviction of Karim Khamarko's shooter. The American Chaldean Chamber of Commerce is putting up $10,000 of the reward, while Crimestoppers and anonymous business owners have contributed $2,500 each.

"My dad was a handyman and built the store from the ground up. He even made every shelf, counter and installed all the walls," Kevin Khamarko said. "All of our inventory was hand-picked by him, as well.  It would have been too hard to walk away from something he was so passionate about."

Dollar Club Plus holiday hours are 10 a.m.-7 p.m. and on Christmas Eve 10 a.m.-9 p.m.

Anyone with information can call Ferndale Police at 248-541-3650 or Crimestoppers at 1-800-SPEAK-UP.