Police Chase Leads in Fatal Market Shooting

As the family of a grocery clerk shot to death during a botched market robbery prepared to bury him, police remained tight-lipped about their investigation.

A visitation for family and friends of Primitivo Alejandro Alvarez, 35, of Ventura was held Monday evening at Camino del Sol Memorial Center & Funeral Home in Oxnard.

A funeral service is scheduled at 11 a.m. today at the memorial home, followed by burial at Ivy Lawn Memorial Park in Ventura.

Alvarez was gunned down Friday as he worked behind the counter at Central Market on Ventura Avenue. Two masked gunmen entered about 1 p.m., demanded cash, and then both fired several rounds and fled before taking any money.

Two market co-owners were also shot. Balbir Singh, cq44, was treated for minor wounds at a local hospital and released. His brother, Mohan Singh, 42, was in fair condition Monday night at Ventura County Medical Center.

A team of nearly two dozen detectives were out in force over the weekend, canvassing homes near the market for possible witnesses. Several employees at shops along Ventura Avenue said Monday they had also been interviewed.

Ventura Police Lt. Quinn Fenwick cqsaid Monday that several people had called police with tips, which detectives were continuing to investigate.

Witnesses have described the getaway car as being either a silver or gray Dodge Shadow or a beige or brown Chrysler New Yorker.

Despite the fact that the gunmen were wearing masks, detectives say they have partial descriptions of the men but do not want to make them public for fear the pair may flee the area, if they haven’t already.