New photos released of gunman in Leesburg convenience store shooting – WFTV

LEESBURG, Fla. — The Leesburg Police Department has released new photos of a suspect they are looking for after a store employee was shot and killed during a robbery.

WATCH CHANNEL 9 EYEWITNESS NEWS

The police department said a man died after being shot during a robbery that occurred around 9:30 p.m. Thursday at a convenience store on Picciola Road, off US-441.

The Leesburg Police Department released security video from inside M&M Food Mart.

We see a person armed with a weapon enter the store and immediately target the seller.

Read: Marion County Dean Arrested, Charged With Sex Offenses Against Students

Investigators said the employee, Raied Shihadeh, 51, was shot.

Shortly after, you can see the armed man running out of the store.

Police said the suspect remained at large Friday.

Read: 'He Took Him': Robber Walks Free After Shooting Leesburg Convenience Store Worker

A medical helicopter transported Shihadeh to a hospital, where he died, according to police.

Adel Abdullah, the store's owner, told Channel 9 on Friday that Shihadeh lost his life for less than $100.

Abdullah said Shihadeh called him but he was busy at the time and he called him back shortly after 9 p.m. on Thursday – but the call was not answered.

Read: Orange County schools offering free summer meals

He later learned that his friend and business partner had been shot to death in his store minutes earlier.

“My best friend, and even more so, my brother,” Abdullah said. “(The shooter) took it from me. He took him away from his family, from his children.

Abdullah said Shihadeh was FaceTiming with his wife when the video shows the suspect walking through the door and immediately pulling out a gun.

Read: Osceola Health Department to hold overdose awareness

“His wife was screaming on the phone saying, ‘I see you! I see you!' That's what she told me,” he said. “I'm calling 911!” And that's what happened. So he shot her once, then there -down.

Investigators don't even know if there was a conversation between Shihadeh and the shooter before the shots were fired.

The video shows the suspect advancing further into the store, shooting the clerk before he fell to the ground.

Read: 'Educate, Empower and Engage': Orange County Sheriff's Office AAPI Team Helps Reach Community

We then see the shooter moving behind the counter.

Barely 30 seconds after the shots were fired, he ran out with his hands barely full.

“You just want to make an honest living and that’s what he did,” Abdullah said. “You don’t want to get rich. You just want to feed your family. And that's what you get.

LPD is asking anyone with information to contact detectives at 352-787-2121 or Crimeline at 1-800-423-8477.

Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to live stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News.

©2024 Cox Media Group