A man credited with helping to revitalize D.C.’s Atlas District was violently attacked in his store Wednesday.
Mo Abdi owns a Euro-style clothing store on H Street N.E. Two men came into the store in the middle of the day, tied him up, pistol-whipped him, and then took off with cash and bags full of clothes.
Several women at a nearby salon rushed to help Abdi after his ordeal. "He said two guys came in with guns and they took everything from him," said a stylist who goes by Hunnora.
"And I just tried to help him," said another stylist, who wished to be identified as Lisa. "I went and got some rags and towels and tried to wipe the blood off of him."
The violence hits hard for many who live and work along H Street because of the recent work done to revitalize the area. Several new bars, restaurants and shops have popped up. There is also new streetcar construction to make it easier for people to get to the businesses.
"Mo is actually the life and soul and spirit of H Street,” said Stephen Hessler, Abdi’s friend, neighbor and lawyer. "He’s put his heart and soul into this business; (this crime) is unspeakable."
The two suspects are still at large. One of them is described as "basketball tall." He stood about 6 foot 8 inches and wore a multi-colored hat.
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Abdi is expected to fully recover from his injuries.
"He's our neighbor and we don't want anybody to get hurt like that," said Ms. Lewis, another stylist.
