FeedsCommunity rallies to aid shop owner after attack
Click image to enlarge
Kimberly Loveless, the 2007 Wayne Businessperson of the Year and member of the Wayne Festival Commission, shows a Wayne Wheelfest button earlier this year. Loveless was injured in a robbery, but is recuperating.Rarely has the Wayne Community Center been as busy as it was on Wednesday.
Residents, city officials, business leaders and members of various service groups filed into the main room there throughout the day to support a benefit for Kimberly Loveless, a city resident and business owner injured in a robbery on Dec. 11.
“It’s awesome,” said former councilman Ed Rowe as he gestured to the crowd. “It kind of chokes you up.”
Rowe stood by the door, where volunteers accepted donations that will fund a $5,000 reward for information leading to the capture and conviction of Loveless’ attacker and help her as she gets back on her feet. He handed out sheets of paper adorned with a large acorn and the words: ‘We’re nuts about you!’ Loveless’ shop, on Wayne Road north of Michigan Avenue, was called the Acorn Shop.
Those impromptu ‘get well’ cards lined the room by the end of the eight-hour fundraiser. Attendees also filled a journal and purchased items from the shop that were brought to the community center for that occasion. They lined up to get in, lined up to get the food donated by Papa Romano’s in Wayne or the baked goods nearby, and they lined up to show their support.
“It’s been like this all day,” said Donna McEachern, Wayne’s mayor pro tem and a member of the Business and Professional Women. She helped organize the event. “It’s just fantastic.”
Not bad for an event that was planned on only a few days notice. The idea for it came from a meeting that took place at the Wayne Chamber of Commerce last Friday. The concept was to get the business community together to generate some leads and show outrage at the brutal nature of the attack.
“The community is really coming together on this one,” said John Williams, chief of the Wayne Police Department. “We’ve gotten a lot of leads already.”
As Loveless closed up at about 7:30 p.m., on Dec. 11, a man forced his way into the shop and threatened her with a knife, he said. She told the suspect he could take anything he wanted as long as he didn’t hurt her, but he stabbed her several times, grabbed her purse and fled on foot, according to Williams. He said robbery was the primary motive, but added that the suspect was a very dangerous individual.
“We don’t think this was just about the money,” Williams said. “Something fueled him. He had every opportunity to take the purse and leave.
“It’s essential that we get this person off the street,” he added.
“This person is extremely violent,” said City Manager John Zech. “We need to catch this person before he can do this to anyone else.”
The suspect is described as an African American man about 6 feet tall and between the ages of 25 and 35. He wore a black hooded sweatshirt during the robbery and had a scarf concealing most of his face.
Police are seeking leads through the detective bureau, which can be reached at (734) 721-1414orthrough Crimestoppersat(800) SPEAKUP. Crimestoppers is offering a reward, too, but that organization limits it to $1,000.
Those who want to contribute to it should send a donation to the Wayne Chamber of Commerce FBO (For Benefit Of) Kim Loveless 34844 W. Michigan Ave, Wayne, MI 48184.
“It’s very important for the community to come out strong on this and send a message to the criminals,” said Wayne Mayor Al Haidous. “It means a lot to be successful with this one.”
Williams said the community can be a big help solving cases like this.
“The police need everyone,” he said. “We can have thousands of people out there trying to help us bring this to a conclusion.
“It doesn’t matter how trivial you think (a tip) might be,” he added. “The police want to know about it.”
Loveless is recuperating at an area hospital, according to her husband, Brad. He said he felt humbled by how many people turned out to show their support on Wednesday.
“It’s amazing,” he said. “I just wish Kim could be here to see it. She would love it.”
