Night Shop Owner Killed in Violent Ixelles Robbery, Wife Bound and Locked in Cellar

The operator of a night shop in Ixelles, Brussels, was killed during a violent robbery in the early hours of Tuesday, while his wife was bound and locked in the cellar by the perpetrators. The Brussels Public Prosecutor’s Office has confirmed the death and opened a judicial investigation.

The victim has been identified as Jaswinder Singh, a 67-year-old man of Pakistani origin who had run the shop on Rue de la Paix for approximately 30 years in the Matonge neighborhood. According to The Brussels Times, the robbery took place at around 02:00 when several perpetrators forced their way into the shop and tied up the owner’s wife in the cellar.

A Harrowing Ordeal

The woman managed to free herself several hours later and discovered her husband’s lifeless body upstairs, after which she alerted police. A neighbor described the moment she came knocking on a door with tape still around her wrists, crying “My husband is dead! My husband is dead!” according to L’Avenir.

The Brussels Public Prosecutor’s Office confirmed the incident in an official statement: “During the night of 3 to 4 August, a couple who ran a night shop on Rue de la Paix in Ixelles were targeted by several criminals. At this stage, the exact circumstances of the incident have not been established, but it appears that the shop owner died during the incident and his wife is believed to have been locked up.”

The perpetrators, described as two or three young men, remain at large. Whether anything was stolen and the total value of any loot has not yet been determined, according to VRT NWS.

A Beloved Figure in the Community

Singh, affectionately known as “Papi” in the neighborhood, was remembered by local shopkeepers as a kind and helpful man who had served the community for three decades. “They had been there for about thirty years. It was really an adorable family,” one local shopkeeper told L’Avenir. “He delivered to the Horeca establishments in the neighborhood, went there in person. He was really an adorable and helpful person. Papi was the kindest shopkeeper in the neighborhood.”

The couple had two children in their twenties. On Tuesday, the couple’s son was seen in tears at the scene, where forensic teams continued their work.

Investigation Underway

The investigation has been entrusted to the Brussels Federal Judicial Police, who will “endeavour to establish the facts of the case, identify the perpetrators and apprehend them,” the prosecutor’s office stated. A forensic doctor was dispatched to the scene, and a judge of instruction has been designated.

Local officials expressed their condolences. Gautier Calomne, First Alderman of Ixelles, said he learned of the tragedy “with great emotion,” extending his “most sincere condolences to his family and loved ones” and his support to “all Ixelles shopkeepers, affected by this tragedy,” as reported by Brussels Today. Mayor Romain De Reusme called it a “true drama” and assured that police will do everything to find the killers.

A Neighborhood Grappling with the Crack Crisis

For many residents, the tragedy has brought renewed attention to the ongoing crack cocaine crisis that has plagued the Matonge neighborhood. Residents describe daily encounters with drug users who are aggressive, verbally abusive, and who throw objects. Many say they no longer dare to go out after 22:00.

“When I arrived here, I was told that Matonge was the ‘crack hill’ of Brussels. Over time, I realized it was not a myth,” one resident told L’Avenir. Another resident, upon learning of Singh’s death, said: “Oh no. But they are really idiots. It’s the crackheads, that’s for sure! It’s become crazy here.”

According to Brussels Today, Alain Maron, then Minister of Health, indicated that between 2,000 and 5,000 people consume crack in Brussels. Safe.brussels noted that crack consumption was experiencing a sharp increase. Crack is smoked cocaine mixed with ammonia or baking soda base — products that are accessible and have become cheaper.

What’s Next

The investigation continues as police work to identify and apprehend the perpetrators. The incident has highlighted the vulnerability of small business owners in areas affected by drug-related crime, and has renewed calls for action to address the crack crisis in the Belgian capital. The Brussels Federal Judicial Police have not released further details, citing the ongoing investigation.