The Bronx was not exempt from the chaos and violence that struck the city this week. Several businesses in the Forhdam Road area were vandalized and targeted by looters. People in that neighborhood are trying to make sense of it all.

In the blink of an eye, 12 years of hard work for Johanzer Sanchez, was reduced to shattered glass. Dozens upon dozens of looters ransacked his store, Beverly Hills Furniture.

“How does it feel that your kids come to my store and take my merchandise? What if you were in my shoes and had a business” Sanchez asked.

The business owner found out that his shop had been overrun, after getting a message on Instagram. The store surveillance cameras captured the smash and grab. It went on from Monday night to Tuesday morning. By the time he got to the shop, which is near the corner of East Kingsbridge and Fordham Road, it was almost empty.

Other stores in the Fordham shopping area were also broken into. The looting followed protests over the death of George Floyd at the hands off Minneapolis police. Some residents told NY1 that the violence and stealing distract from the powerful message of equality.

“People are trying to make a living. If you have a problem with the cops, take it to the cops. Why do you have to destroy other people’s property?” asked one Fordham resident who did not want to give his name.

Many business owners boarded up their storefronts. Some spray-painted the wooden boards with “Black and Brown owned business,” to detract the looting.

On Thursday, Mayor de Blasio announced financial and legal assistance to help Bronx businesses that were targeted.

Sanchez, who migrated from the Dominican Republic as a child, once worked as a delivery truck driver for a furniture store.  He saved for years to open his own at the age of 21. He also has a second location on Morris Park Avenue. He says he understands the peaceful protests against racial discrimination, but doesn’t understand how that is connected to stealing someone else’s merchandise. It is the second time he’s had to pick up the pieces.

“I had a big fire in 2018 in one of my stores. I lost everything. I went into a depression and it was hard,” he said as his eyes welled up with tears.

The father of three says with or without any help from the city, he plans to rebuild and has set up a Go Fund Me page.

“I’m a fighter. I came to this country without anything and I got it. You can take it back again. I’m going to get it again. For me failure is not an option,” he said.