Cranston shop shot at almost 12 times

CRANSTON, R.I. (WPRI) - A local shop owner says someone is using his store as target practice, and he has no idea why. The Cranston business has been hit almost a dozen times.

The owner, Erold Baptiste, says he arrives at his shop every morning, not sure what he'll find. He says he's never been threatened, but just wants whoever is doing this, stopped.

In all, Baptiste's tailoring shop has been shot at in the middle of the night nine times in the last three months. Thirty bullet holes now stand out among the mannequins.

"I feel terrible. I feel awful about it. Here I am trying to make a living. You know, I have two kids in college," says Baptiste.

After the fourth time, Baptiste arrived to work to discover the E.J. Tailoring Store front shot shot up, he stopped calling police. He doesn't know why he's the only target in the Atwood Avenue strip plaza, and neither do police.

"I don't know who would do something like that. The only thing I know, I don't have a problem with anybody. If I had a problem with someone, I would say maybe," adds Baptiste.

Baptiste moved to the busier location one year ago, hoping for more business. He now has a steady stream of customers in and out. But, there's someone who doesn't want him there.

"My thinking was, someone who has a business trying to drive me out of here," says Baptiste.

Baptiste, a minister, prays the shooter will stop, so he can get back to doing what he loves, making people look their best.

"I know people from this area love me, because they come in all the time, and bring me business. And, they're so nice to me."

Baptiste says he's not about to replace the windows because he doesn't know when the shooter may strike again.

Anyone with any information is being asked to call Cranston Police.