VOLUSIA COUNTY, Florida. — Murder charges have been filed against the 83-year-old man accused of shooting the owner of a Daytona Beach jewelry store last month.
John Craiger, who is accused of killing Ghazi Osta on July 19 before he himself was shot and killed by Osta’s son, was charged this week with first-degree murder, the Seventh Judicial District Attorney’s Office announced on social media Friday.
Craiger was booked into prison on July 31 and faces life in prison without parole or the death penalty if convicted.
Ghazi Osta was shot in his own store – Volusia Gold & Diamond, 536 W. International Speedway Blvd. – where Craiger was a frequent customer, according to his wife, Leigh Osta.
According to Leigh Osta, Craiger was even friends with her husband, and she says the 83-year-old began to rely on him too much, causing him to become withdrawn.
“He came back a few weeks ago to sell jewelry and my husband wasn’t interested. I think the jewelry was more or less an attempt to get my husband to recommit,” she said.
Ghazi Osta and Craiger had reportedly started arguing when the shooting occurred.
Citing surveillance video, Daytona Beach police said Craiger walked away from the bar where he was arguing with Ghazi Osta before pulling out a revolver, turning around and shooting him.
Two store employees, one of whom was Ghazi Osta’s son, then attacked Craiger; Ghazi Osta’s son managed to shoot Craiger while the other employee hit Craiger on the head with a small statue and put him in a headlock, police reported.
“My son stayed with my husband until the ambulance arrived,” said Leigh Osta.
A GoFundMe campaign has been set up to support the Osta family financially. Click here to find it.
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