Saiful Islam Bhuyia, 36, a Bangladeshi-born business owner in Atlanta, was shot and killed on the night of September 10, 2017 after closing his store, Southern Grocery on Westview Drive. Bhuyia and an employee, 20-year-old Rizanul Islam, were sitting in Bhuyia’s vehicle when a white car pulled up with its headlights off. A man identified as 23-year-old Jousha Routh exited the passenger side, approached Bhuyia’s driver side and demanded money. As Bhuyia accelerated to flee, Routh fired a .40 caliber Glock handgun twice through the driver’s window, striking Bhuyia in the upper back and neck; Bhuyia died at the scene. Islam was shot in the head and died at Grady Memorial Hospital a few days later.

Investigators linked Routh to the attack through a left palm print on the exterior of Bhuyia’s car and phone records placing him at the store. License plate reader hits led to the vehicle used by Routh and two other alleged accomplices. Jousha Routh was arrested in December 2017; in February 2020 he received two consecutive life sentences plus 35 years after convictions on multiple charges. Did anyone in the community know something about that night or the vehicle seen near Southern Grocery?