NORFOLK, Va. — Family and friends gathered outside Triple C Convenience in Norfolk Sunday to remember 84-year-old James Carter who was gunned down at the family-owned store earlier in the week.
Carter was shot and killed on Wednesday when a dispute outside the store located at 826 Lindenwood Avenue escalated, resulting in fatal injuries.
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To honor his legacy, community members gathered for a candlelight vigil on Christmas Eve. Those in attendance called Carter "the grandfather of Norfolk."
13News Now spoke to Carter's oldest son, Kevin Carter. Kevin said it's difficult to put into words what his father meant to him.
“I’m really hurting on the inside, and I try to be strong, and I try to stay strong for my brothers and sisters," Kevin said.
Kevin called the loss devastating and unnecessary.
“My father got shot down breaking up an argument," he said. "He put himself in front of his customers so nobody else could get hurt.”
Elliott Boddie, who has known Carter his whole life, describes the store operator as the type of person to give the shirt off his back.
Boddie added that the community is doing what Carter would've wanted — celebrating his life.
"He created memories," he explained. "He's still doing it. This is going to be a memory, and its going to continue to be a memory.
Carter's daughter, Georgia Carter, previously told 13News Now that the 84-year-old was a good man and father.
"He was a family man," Georgia Carter said. "He was a hardworking individual. He would give his heart out to a lot of people, and have given his heart out to a lot of people," said Georgia Carter, one of his daughters."
Carter ran Triple C Convenience following a long career of owning other storefronts in Norfolk.
Georgia Carter told 13News Now that her father was fatally struck as he was coming back into the store after telling the group to leave.
Norfolk police announced on Friday that three people believed to be connected to the deadly shooting were arrested.
Dennis Hisle, 42, is facing second-degree murder, malicious wounding and gun charges, Bruce Hisle, 40, is facing firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon and Tamika Credle, 41, is facing one count of accessory after the fact.
All three are being held without bond at the Norfolk City Jail, online records show.