ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Rochester Mayor Malik Evans says the city is taking steps to ensure a local convenience store that was the site of an alleged sexual assault will no longer be "a venue for illegal activity."
Rochester police say an underage girl was assaulted by two men inside the store on Saturday afternoon, and they are now investigating whether there are more possible victims.
The store is at the corner of Central Park and Scio Street. The sign at the address, which police say is 95 Central Park, says Los Primos Deli.
The building's owner, who was renting space to the store owner has indicated that he intends to close the business, Evans said. The Rochester Police Department says the store is closed and currently padlocked.
RPD Capt. Sam Lucyshyn says that when the girl went into the store, two male clerks locked the door behind her and attacked her.
“It's reprehensible that a sexual assault... subjected a victim of this age, a juvenile victim, to something so horrific," Lucyshyn said. "I mean, how do you recover from something like that?"
“In speaking with the supervisors and officers that were on scene, it was quite emotionally disturbing," he added.
Police say the girl entered the store as a customer to make a purchase. They did not say how she escaped, but she was able to report the incident to police.
The convenience store is across the street from The Montessori Academy, which teaches elementary students in the Rochester City School District.
The RPD arrested two men Saturday in connection with the assault. Investigators say a search warrant was executed, and they also discovered a Glock 9mm handgun loaded with 48 rounds in a drum-style clip and about five pounds of marijuana inside the store.
Shadad Alghaithy, 20, and James Hampton, 28, are both charged with first-degree rape and unlawful imprisonment in addition to drug, weapons and stolen property charges, police say.
Alghaithy, according to authorities, is currently a level 2 sex offender based on a 2021 conviction for first-degree disseminating indecent material to minors.
The two men both worked at the corner store, according to police, but they have not said who owns the store or whether the two men are residents of the city of Rochester.
Rochester Corporation Counsel Linda Kingsley says the building owner and city have a verbal agreement that there will be no business at the corner store for the next six months, and the owner will need to follow rules when putting in place another business.
Kingsley says a written agreement must be submitted by Wednesday or the city will take legal action to close the building down long term.
"As soon as we learned of the incident this weekend, we began an accelerated process around this property," Kingsley said. "Given the extent of alleged criminal activity discovered Saturday, including violent sexual assault, weapons and drugs, we are taking immediate and definitive actions to ensure this location is no longer a threat to the community."
Police say there is some information indicating that there may be more potential victims associated with the suspects and the store. They are asking anyone who may be a victim, or know someone who could be, to call 911.
“There's a myriad of services that are available in the city of Rochester, county of Monroe, as well that will help victims come forward, navigate the very challenging court system and also help victims be able to tell their story," Lucyshyn said.