DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — July 19, 2024 – An employee was killed and one other person was shot Friday at a Daytona Beach jewelry store on West International Speedway Boulevard, according to police. The name of the person killed has not been released.
Daytona Beach Police Chief Jakari Young said three employees were inside a jewelry store, when a white male walked into the store. There was a back-and-forth discussion between the employee behind the counter and the person who walked into store, and at some point, the man who entered the store pulled out a gun and shot the employee, according to Young. A witness who was standing nearby, another store employee, fired back at the shooter, the chief said. Another witness approached the shooter from behind and hit him in the head with a blunt object, police said.
Based on video surveillance in the possession of law enforcement, investigators said they believe the person who was killed appears to have been familiar with the shooter. The suspect in the case was shot, and there are no safety concerns because he was taken to Halifax Medical Center with multiple gunshot wounds and a head laceration, police said.
Authorities identified the suspect as John Craiger, 83. He is charged with one count of murder and one count of attempted first-degree murder, police said.
“The community is safe because we do have the suspect in custody,” Young said. No other details are available. Article provided by Spectrum News 13.
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Update: The victim in this crime has been identified as Ghazi (Gus) Osta, the former owner of the jewelry store. JSA extends its condolences to Mr. Osta’s family and friends.
If you have any information related to the shooting or suspect, please contact the Jewelers Security Alliance at jsa2@jewelerssecurity.org or 212-687-0328.