Leesburg law enforcement officials have charged 25-year-old Alex Lopez with the murder of convenience store clerk Raied Shihadeh, following a robbery incident at M&M Food Mart last week. Lopez faces charges including murder, armed robbery, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and usage of a firearm during a felony. With assistance from the suspect's family and public tips, police apprehended Lopez at a motel in Kissimmee, as reported by WFTV.
The suspect, who has prior felony convictions dating as recent as 2020, pleaded not guilty on Tuesday. Authorities have issued an arrest warrant following a week-long manhunt, initially hindered by the elusive nature of the suspect's whereabouts. Yet the collective efforts of the suspect's acquaintances and family culminated in a breakthrough, as detailed by one caller who spoke of Lopez's street name "Bobo" and connections to MS-13, as per WFTV.
At the heart of this senseless crime is the family of Raied Shihadeh, who've been left to navigate the wake of a tragedy that unfolded while Shihadeh was on a FaceTime call with his wife, during what was also their daughter's 16th birthday. Monique Shihadeh, in a heart-wrenching interview, conveyed her despair, "I will never, ever understand it. And I will never, ever forgive who did this to him," she said, according to FOX 35.
Sergeant Shannon Walsh of the Leesburg Police Department expressed confidence in their pursuit, stating "We are confident we will find him." The Shihadeh family continues to ask for support and information from anyone who might aid in the case, with a family member pleading, "If you see something, if you know who it was, please. I'm begging for the sake of my children, for the sake of his family, please say something," A minimum of $1,000 reward is being offered through Crimeline for tips leading to an arrest, as per FOX 35.
