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GREENSBORO — With nerves rattled and their sense of security heightened, residents of Fisher Park worked Wednesday to help police learn more about the shooting death of a local business owner.

Mohammed “Mike” Ali, 28, co-owner of Red Mike Grocery at 600 N. Elm St. was killed while working at his store about 9:30 a.m. Sunday as many churchgoers rushed to Sunday school at nearby First Presbyterian Church.

Police said they have recovered evidence, including clothing and a weapon possibly linked to the killing. Investigators are not commenting on a motive. But police have said money was missing from the store’s register.

Police and residents went door-to-door Wednesday handing out about 750 fliers and seeking tips that they hope will lead investigators to Ali’s killer.

“We are soliciting information to see if anyone saw something that they may not have thought was odd at the time but now they realize there is something that was going on,” said Dwight Crotts, assistant police chief of the Greensboro Police Department.

Several Fisher Park residents said they were working to overcome their fears after the tragedy.

Melissa O’Connor took her children to the neighborhood playground Wednesday afternoon, the first time she ventured out since Sunday morning, she said.

“We have all been in shock,” O’Connor said. “We’ve been spending our time inside, and that’s been really unfortunate. I’ve been really happy to see (the police) walking around because it made me feel more comfortable.”

Bonny McClain, who lives on South Park Drive, said she once felt comfortable walking her dogs in the dark, but now she feels less safe.

“At first it seemed as if people might have been running through the backyards of the homes,” McClain said. “We went on lockdown mode, set all of the alarms and pulled the dogs in. We are starting to feel better now, though.”

Several residents said they had been concerned that a 24-hour grocery selling alcohol and tobacco could bring the wrong crowd into their neighborhood.

“It was out of character with our neighborhood,” McClain said. “A lot of people would congregate there. I would cross the street with my children because of the language you would hear. It was just bad news.”

Meanwhile at Red Mike Grocery, Wednesday was supposed to be a day of celebration as Ali and his family prepared for his wedding to fianceé Nikki Tipton today.

Instead, they were making plans to send Ali’s body home to Jordan, said Moe Dajani, a close friend of the family. There, Ali will come home to his mother, whom he hadn’t seen in 12 years.

“He started this business on his own and worked hard for it,” Dajani said. “From day one, people gave him a hard time and we don’t know why.”

Contact Ryan Seals at 373-7077 or ryan.seals@news-record.com