Willie Kirk Fredd, 54, an African American grocer who owned Fredd’s Groceries, was shot and killed on January 27, 1981, in Rockford, Illinois during an armed robbery. His stockboy, 20-year-old Albert Pearson, was also shot and killed in the same incident.

Investigators later identified Raymond Lee Stewart as responsible for a weeklong crime spree that began January 27, 1981, spanning Rockford and Beloit, Wisconsin. Stewart is linked to the murders of Kevin Kaiser, 17, and Kenny Foust, 35, in Rockford, and to Donald Rains and Richard Boeck in Beloit. He was arrested and charged with multiple counts of first-degree murder and armed robbery; Stewart was convicted and sentenced to death.

Anyone who knew Willie Fredd, Albert Pearson, or their business, or has information about the events of that week in Rockford and Beloit, is asked to share what they remember.