A variety store owner injured in a weekend attack emigrated from the Middle East and works at his shop seven days a week to build a better life for his three young kids, his father says.

Rajaie El Shorafa, the longtime owner of Horton Variety, was listed in critical condition Monday, two days after he was found outside his downtown-area convenience store.

“It is shocking,” his father Fathi El Shorafa said of the assault that left his son with life-threatening head injuries.

Rajaie El Shorafa, 56, has run the shop at 216 Horton St. for more than two decades since his family emigrated to London in 1994. Originally from the Palestinian ­territory of Gaza, the family moved to Kuwait before coming to Canada, the elder El Shorafa said.

“We have never broken the laws, we have lived peacefully,” he said.

El Shorafa and his wife, who was by his side at the hospital Monday, have twin boys and a daughter.

With no other employees to run the variety store, the family now faces an uncertain future, the elder El Shorafa said.

Police called to a disturbance at 7 p.m. Saturday at Horton and Clarence streets, the location of Horton Variety, found El Shorafa critically injured.

Bloodstains could be seen on the sidewalk Monday.



Jessie Aaron McConnell

London police Monday obtained an arrest warrant for Jessie Aaron McConnell, 22, of London, for one count of aggravated assault.

It remains unclear what led to the assault, or whether other people were involved.

“This is still an active and ongoing investigation,” police spokesperson Const. Sandasha Bough said.

Detectives were canvassing the neighbourhood Monday morning.



Det. Gary Bezaire, left and Det. Steve Simone canvass the area around Horton Variety Monday. Store owner Rajaie El Shorafa, 56, was critically injured in an assault at his store Saturday. DALE CARRUTHERS / THE LONDON FREE PRESS

Customer Michael Brant said El Shorafa treats everyone with respect, regardless of their appearance.

“He got down to our level,” Brant said.

This is the second serious assault in the area in recent months.

A 26-year-old woman suffered life-threatening injuries July 25 when she was stabbed in the neck during a daytime fight outside nearby Goodwill Industries. Fast-acting Goodwill staffers and citizens performed first aid on the injured woman and calmed bystanders.

Hashim Peters of London was charged with aggravated assault and possessing a dangerous weapon in that incident.

dcarruthers@postmedia.com

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