LEESBURG, FL – In a case that gripped a quiet Florida community, a man was convicted Wednesday of murdering a beloved convenience store clerk as the victim’s wife listened, helpless, on her phone hundreds of miles away.
A Lake County jury found Alex Lopez, 26, guilty of first-degree murder and armed robbery in connection with the shooting death of Raied “Ray” Shihadeh, a 51-year-old father of five. Shihadeh’s slaying took place inside the M & M Food Mart in Leesburg, roughly 40 miles northwest of Orlando. After the verdict, Lopez was sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole.
The events leading up to the crime unfolded shortly before midnight on May 30, when Shihadeh’s wife, Monique, connected with her husband via FaceTime. In the midst of their conversation, Monique heard a frantic exchange—her husband pleading “no, no”—followed by the back-to-back thunder of gunfire. The call fell silent as she desperately called out to him.
Inside the store, according to the evidence presented at trial, Lopez approached Shihadeh and fired the fatal shots, later stepping over his victim to deliver another. Surveillance footage and subsequent investigation revealed that the suspect made off with less than $100 in cash and a vape cartridge.
The horror of the situation was compounded when a customer wandered into the store minutes later, only to find Monique’s panicked voice echoing from her husband’s phone and Shihadeh’s lifeless body behind the counter. The customer immediately contacted authorities, prompting police and emergency crews to the scene.
First responders arrived to find Shihadeh suffering from gunshot wounds to the abdomen and head. Despite being airlifted to a hospital, he was pronounced dead upon arrival. The grisly incident shocked local residents, many of whom frequented the family-run store and knew Shihadeh as a friendly face in the neighborhood.
In the days that followed, law enforcement worked to uncover the assailant’s identity. Images captured from security cameras were released to the public, helping generate leads. One crucial tip came from Lopez’s own cousin, who helped point investigators in the right direction. Lopez managed to evade police for several weeks before being apprehended at a Kissimmee hotel.
Prosecutors characterized the crime as an act of senseless violence, emphasizing the devastating impact a small sum of stolen cash had compared to the value of a human life. Shihadeh’s death has left a deep wound within his family and the wider Leesburg community.
During sentencing, the judge imposed the harshest penalty available. Lopez will spend the rest of his natural life behind bars.
Relatives of the victim gathered at court, holding one another in a quiet display of grief as the jury returned its decision. Family and friends have since remembered Shihadeh as a dedicated husband and father who worked tirelessly to support his children.
With the conclusion of the trial, authorities hope the swift resolution brings some measure of closure to those affected by the tragedy, while the community continues to mourn the loss of a man remembered for his warmth and generosity.