Witnesses team up to attack gunman after seeing store owner killed, Florida cops say

A homicide suspect sustained multiple gunshot wounds and a cut to the head when outraged witnesses to the killing joined forces to confront him, according to investigators in Florida.

The suspect, 83-year-old John Craiger, survived and has been charged with first-degree murder and attempted first-degree murder, the Daytona Beach Police Department said in a news release.

Craiger is accused of walking into Volusia Gold and Diamonds just before 1 p.m. on July 19 and fatally shooting one of the staff members during an argument, police said.

The victim was store owner Ghazi Michel Osta, a fundraising campaign reports.

“After a brief verbal altercation, the suspect brandished a firearm and shot the victim,” police officials said.

“A witness who was standing nearby produced a firearm and exchanged gunfire with the suspect. Another witness was able to approach the suspect from behind and strike him in the head with a blunt object. The suspect sustained multiple gunshot wounds and a laceration to the head.”

The victim died after being taken to a hospital, officials said. The witnesses who took action were not hurt.

Jail records show the suspect was released from a hospital and arrested on July 20.

Among the witnesses were Osta’s son, David, who is credited with “neutralizing the shooter and saving himself and two other store employees,” the fundraiser reports.

The suspect was “a frequent customer” of the store, which the family opened 38 years ago, the campaign says.

Daytona Beach is about a 55-mile drive northeast of Orlando.

This story was originally published July 23, 2024 at 4:30 AM with the headline "Witnesses team up to attack gunman after seeing store owner killed, Florida cops say."