During their investigation, police detectives discovered that murder suspect Alex Lopez had help in his escape from law enforcement.
Store clerk shot dead in Leesburg robbery
This video footage is from Fast Stop Superette, 3702 Picciola Road, Leesburg. On May 30, 2024, a store employee was shot and killed during a robbery.
Leesburg Police Department
The Leesburg Police Department has announced additional arrests in connection with the shooting death of Fast Stop Superette owner Raied “Ray” Shihadeh on May 30.
During their ongoing investigation, detectives have discovered that defendant Alex Lopez’s mother, Patricia Kinchens, his sister Breanna Lopez and his girlfriend Kaili Dupuis assisted Alex Lopez in preventing his arrest by police.
Detectives issued arrest warrants for all three women for aiding and abetting premeditated murder, armed robbery with a firearm, possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon, and displaying and using a weapon during a crime.
Kitchens and Breanna Lopez were arrested without incident on August 22 with the assistance of the Lady Lake Police Department and the Wildwood Police Department.
Dupuis is still at large and is wanted by law enforcement.
Leesburg police are asking anyone with knowledge of the whereabouts of 25-year-old Dupuis to call them at 352-787-2121 or Crimeline at 1-800-423-TIPS (8477) for a reward of up to $5,000.
Re-examining the crime
Shortly after 9 p.m. on May 30, Leesburg Police dispatched officers to the Fast Stop Superette, 3702 Picciola Road, following a robbery and shooting. Upon arrival, officers found Ray Shihadeh lying on the ground.
Lake EMS and Leesburg Fire-Rescue were called to the scene to treat the victim, who was unconscious at the time.
Leesburg officials set up a perimeter and requested a canine unit and the Lake County Sheriff’s Air Unit. Lopez was identified as a suspect and remained at large for several days.
Shihadeh was flown by helicopter to HCA Florida Ocala Hospital, where he later died.
Widow Monique Shihadeh told the Daily Commercial she was furious when she learned of Alex Lopez’s arrest prior to her husband’s murder and that Lopez was not on parole.
Learn more about the Shihadehs “I want the world to know what we have lost”: Family mourns murdered Leesburg shop owner
He was released from prison on July 1, 2023, after serving a four-year, five-month prison sentence in Lake County from 2017 to 2019 for auto theft, burglary of an inhabited dwelling, grand larceny and fraud.
