Volusia Gold & Diamond employee shot and killed identified as the store owner

The Volusia Gold & Diamond employee fatally shot on Friday was Ghazi Osta, the owner of the Daytona Beach store, according to Facebook posts from his family.

Leigh Osta, the wife of Ghazi Osta, posted about her husband's death on Facebook Sunday morning.

"My husband and father of our 4 children was brutally murdered in our jewelry store. The unbelievable pain we are going through right now is crippling. Not only was my husband killed but my son was shot at by this horrible person. My son neutralized the assailant that I won't give name space to. Please keep us in your prayers," Leigh Osta wrote.

Ghazi Osta had celebrated his 68th birthday earlier this month.

Police have charged 83-year-old John Craiger with first-degree murder and attempted first-degree murder. He was shot multiple times after he opened fire and was taken to a hospital, police said. It's unclear what Craiger's condition is or if he is still in the hospital.

Daytona Beach Police Chief Jakari Young said the shooting was reported at 12:57 p.m. Friday from the business at 536 W. International Speedway Blvd.

Police still have yet to identify the employee who was shot. On Friday, Young said that the employee was familiar with Craiger who was a customer. And the shooting appeared to be a dispute between the employee and Craiger, not a robbery, Young said.

Craiger pulled out a gun and shot the employee. Another employee pulled out a gun and shot Craiger, Young said. A witness also struck Craiger in the back of the head with a blunt object.

Craiger was shot multiple times and suffered a laceration to the head.

No one else in the store was injured.

'He was a very kind person'

Daytona Beach City Commissioner Stacy Cantu said she had known Ghazi Osta since she was a teenager. She said he opened the store in 1986.

"I am very saddened to hear about Gus. My family and I have known him since I was 17 years old. I believe May of this year was his 38th anniversary in business, and he was very proud of how many years he had been in business in the same place," Cantu said. "He was a very kind person and very proud of his family. Every time I saw Gus he was beaming with pride telling me about the accomplishments of his children. My sincere condolences and prayers to the family."

The Osta family has set up a GoFundMe page organized by one of his daughter's, Sienna Osta. The page stated that Ghazi Osta was "the victim of a horrific act of violence by a frequent customer."

Osta's son, David, saved others in the store, according to the description on the Gofundme page.

"David is a hero. He was at our store when our father was shot, and he quickly jumped into action, neutralizing the shooter and saving himself and two other store employees. We are so grateful that David was unharmed."

One of Ghazi Osta's daughters, Pavlina Osta, is an anchor and reporter for CBS58 in Milwaukee . She posted on social media that she is home with the family.

The family stated on the Gofundme page that things will never be the same again.

"He was a loving father, brother, and friend to so many. He had the soul of a lion and always wore his heart on his sleeve. His energy, generosity, and passion for life could be felt by all those who came into contact with him. Our dad was always striving to help those around him. He loved his community, and they loved him back. He will be deeply missed.

Those wishing to contribute to the Gofundme can go here.

News-Journal reporter Eileen Zaffiro-Kean contributed to this report.

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Volusia Gold & Diamond employee shot and killed identified as the store owner