Tobacco shop owner's death is third tragedy for family

The death over the weekend of a Lumberton tobacco shop owner is the third tragic death to strike his small family.

Posted 5:59 a.m. Dec 2, 2019 — Updated 5:39 p.m. Dec 2, 2019

Gilbert Baez

, WRAL reporter

LUMBERTON, N.C. — The death over the weekend of a Lumberton tobacco shop owner is the third tragic death to strike his small family.

Lumberton police said Manal Abdelaziz, 60, was found shot dead shortly before 3 a.m. Saturday in front of Tobacco Brothers Minute Shop, which is located at 2205 Martin Luther King Drive.

Abdelaziz, 60, worked at the business and had just closed for the night when the incident occurred, police said.

In January 2016, Abdelaziz's 3-year-old son, also named Manal, found a 9-millimeter handgun that was kept in the store for protection and accidentally shot himself. A mural in honor of the child, who was known by hic nickname, Cash, adorns the wall on the side of the store.

About a month later, the child's mother, Evelina Dial, was found dead in some woods behind a home on Nina Road, off of Modest Road in Maxton.

A Maxton man, Timothy Wade Locklear, of Shady Lane, was charged with first-degree murder, attempted first-degree rape, burning personal property and altering and destroying evidence in connection to her death.

Abdelaziz had sold the store about a month ago. The new owner said the person who shot Abdelaziz stole his red pickup truck and about $550.

Lavern Moody, who lives nearby, heard what be believes were gunshots. "I heard something ... It was that time of night," Moody said. "I didn't know where it was coming from though."

Lumberton police are asking for help from the public to identify Abdelaziz's killer. Anyone with information is asked to call investigators at 910-671-3845.

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