Community members ‘walk the walk’ in memory of slain convenience store owner

A popular spot to pick up food or a drink, Ben’s Community Market in Six Points became a gathering place on the night of April 11 for people throughout Corpus Christi who’ve lost loved ones to violent crimes.

The “10th Annual Walk for Ben,” is an event held in memory of shop owner Mostafa “Ben” Bighamian, who was shot and killed inside the corner store during a robbery on April 14, 2014. It featured a panel of speakers who took the podium to share stories and urge meaningful change to both the justice system and local victim assistance programs.

Guests walked around the block after the ceremony carrying posters and a banner and wearing t-shirts to remember victims of crime and spread the word to raise awareness.

Bighamian’s family coordinates the memorial walk each April to align with the U.S. Department of Justice's Office for Victims of Crime National Crime Victims’ Rights Week, scheduled for April 21 to April 27 this year. It has become a fixture of the neighborhood store at Ayers Street and Brownlee Boulevard, with Nueces County Commissioners, constables, city staff, and the District Attorney participating.

“We want to take back the streets,” said Jen Allende, the oldest of Bighamian’s six children, who was 30 years old when she lost her father. “We want to invest in our community. The only way to do that is by coming together as a community and speaking, talking and communicating. These are the steps we’re going to take. With God’s will, being there for each other is the biggest thing.”

Bighamian’s son, Zack, now works in and runs the store with his mom, Thelma, who took care of the family and ran the business after her husband died. She encouraged anyone who knew Ben to share their stories about his dad.

“I don’t get tired of it, because, you know, I get to hear stuff about my dad all the time,” he said. “In some ways, it keeps him alive in my heart. If you see me at the store, tell me about your family. Maybe that keeps them alive, too.”

Many people who knew the entrepreneur have poignant memories of his generous spirit. An immigrant from Iran who was active in politics and interactive with customers, Bighamian was known to hand out bags of free food to those in need, give discounts on certain items, fix customers' tires and donate to local charities.

"Family was his thing," said San Juanita Saenz, who was a friend of Thelma’s. "It was very important that he always gave back. That was the type of person he was."

Another attendee was City Councilman At-Large Jim Klein, who said that Bighamian was a bright light in the community who represented what is best about Corpus Christi.

"Through gatherings like this, we not only keep Ben’s memory alive, but for those of us not fortunate enough to have known him personally, we also continue his goal to improve this community," he said. "We come together to say no to violence for the betterment of all of us—for our friends, our parents, our kids."

To bring attention to resources that are available to victims of violent crimes and help them navigate the system when they’re uncertain what to do after a crime, Victims Advocates, who are representatives of that program, spoke during the ceremony to share information on the City of Corpus Christi’s Victim Assistance Program, offered through the Crimes Against Persons Resources program.

Violent crime victims can access the Crime Victims Compensation Program through the Office of the Attorney General to help with funeral or burial expenses, medical bills, counseling, lost wages, emergency protective orders or travel expenses for immediate family members affected by the tragedy.

In the Corpus Christi Police Department's (CCPD) Criminal Investigation Division (CID), a lieutenant will review a police report and assign a detective to decide whether to forward the case to the proper agency to file charges.

For multiple victims' families, their stories underlined the urgent need for greater support and responsiveness from law enforcement and social services.

The family of Eriya Ruiz, a 15-year-old girl who was fatally stabbed in 2023 by a boy of the same age, attended to demand systemic change of the justice system to hold juvenile offenders accountable for crimes like adults.

Robert Silva, the father of 11-year-old Amethyst Silva, who was fatally shot in 2022 while watching a fireworks display with her family, recalled the difficulty in getting a response from 911 and also in seeing justice delivered to the offenders.

Nueces County Precinct 3 Commissioner John Marez said that when tragedy happens, the opportunity to attend an event such as the walk is a way to send an important message to the community that neither gun violence nor victimization will be tolerated.

Edward Alvarado, CCPD lead detective in the Robbery/Homicide Bureau who investigated Bighamian's murder and now attends the family's Thanksgiving dinners, attributed the quick solving of the case to community involvement.

"It was a member of the community who took it upon themselves to keep their eyes open, know that something was not right, and follow the vehicle as it sped away in this back parking lot and call 911 to let the police know where they were," he said. "It was there that three subjects were contacted and one of them started telling us right away what had occurred.

"It was also at this location that we recovered the murder weapon," he said. "Within 19 months, all three were sentenced to time in prison through either plea deals or jury trials."

Allende's tribute channeled the anger and grief that she felt toward her father's killers, but she switched gears in recalling the deep impact left by the people who have visited the store over the years, and the opportunity that presents to leave a legacy for generations to come by demonstrating acts of kindness.

"It was stupid for someone to come into the store and take his life because they wanted a couple of bucks to do drugs," she said. "It was stupid that not only did you kill our family and hurt us, you hurt your own family by getting yourself arrested. It's a decision that's not very thought-out, and there are consequences on both sides of that.

"If we can do one act of kindness, we could literally change people's perspective," she said. "You never know what someone's going through. You don't know that your words are so powerful that they could change that person--just a hug, just a smile, just a positive word. I think that's what my dad stands for and what we need to do each and every day."

One attendee was Donna Watkins, the founder of the Homicide Survivors’ Support Group, which raised awareness about resources that are available to victims’ families, including clothing, supplies and home and funeral services. She attended on the anniversary of her brother’s murder on April 12 and offered support to those in grief.

“I’ve been coming ever since they’ve had this here, and it brings my heart to a good place, because look around at what you see—people that have never known one another but they’re brought here because of that loss,” she said.

This article originally appeared on Corpus Christi Caller Times: Community members honor slain Corpus Christi convenience store owner