Silver Lake Trader Joe's reopens 12 days after fatal shooting

SILVER LAKE (FOX 11 / CNS) - The Trader Joe's store in Silver Lake reopened Thursday, 12 days after the market's assistant manger was killed by an LAPD bullet during an exchange of gunfire between police and a suspect fleeing into the shop.

Melyda Corado, 27, was killed in the July 21 shootout -- felled by a bullet fired by a Los Angeles police officer trying to prevent an armed suspect from running into the market.

That suspect, 28-year-old Gene Evin Atkins, holed up inside the store for about three hours, holding multiple employees and customers hostage, before surrendering to police. Even though he did not fire the bullet that killed Corado, Atkins has been charged with her murder, under the theory he set off the chain of events that led to her death.

The store has remained closed since the shooting, as a memorial of flowers, signs and balloons grew outside in honor of Corado. It will reopen at 8 a.m. Thursday.

"While we remain heartbroken over the tragic death of Melyda Corado and the trauma our crew members and customers have suffered, we recognize that moving forward is an important part of supporting the healing of this community,'' according to a statement from Trader Joe's. "As we allowed those involved time to grieve ... we took the opportunity to make some renovations to the Silver Lake Trader Joe's, which will reopen this Thursday, Aug. 2 at 8 a.m

"While we move forward, we will never forget. And we remain forever grateful for the incredible outpouring of support from customers and crew members across the country.''

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