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Florida Jeweler Shot, Killed Following Argument With Customer
Ghazi Michel Osta, or “Gus,” was killed Friday by an 83-year-old man said to be a frequent customer at his store, Volusia Gold & Diamond.
Ghazi Osta, better known as Gus, was the owner and president of Volusia Gold & Diamond, a store he and his wife, Leigh Osta, opened in 1986. He was shot and killed inside the store Friday afternoon after a brief argument with a regular customer. (Photo courtesy of Volusia Gold & Diamond Facebook page)
Daytona Beach, Fla.—The owner of Volusia Gold & Diamond in Daytona Beach, Florida, was shot and killed in his shop Friday following an argument with a customer.
In a statement released Friday, Daytona Beach police said John Willard Craiger, 83, entered the store before 1 p.m. and approached the victim, later publicly identified as Ghazi Michel Osta, while he was working behind the counter.
After a “brief verbal altercation,” Craiger, whom the Osta family described as a “frequent customer” at the store, pulled a small revolver out of the right-front pocket of his pants and shot Osta in the head.
According to the charging affidavit, surveillance footage viewed by police shows a witness, whom Daytona Beach Police Chief Jakari Young publicly confirmed is an employee of the store, emerging from the back of the store and exchanging gunfire with the suspect before ducking behind the counter and crawling away.
Another witness, also a store employee, approached Craiger from behind and struck him in the head with what appears to be a small statue, the affidavit said.
He fell to the ground still clutching the revolver and was struck again, this time with a small brass-colored vase.
Craiger was shot multiple times in the legs and also sustained a head injury, police said. The two store employees were not injured.
He is being charged with one count of first-degree murder and one count of attempted first-degree murder.
In a statement released Friday, Daytona Beach police said John Willard Craiger, 83, entered the store before 1 p.m. and approached the victim, later publicly identified as Ghazi Michel Osta, while he was working behind the counter.
After a “brief verbal altercation,” Craiger, whom the Osta family described as a “frequent customer” at the store, pulled a small revolver out of the right-front pocket of his pants and shot Osta in the head.
According to the charging affidavit, surveillance footage viewed by police shows a witness, whom Daytona Beach Police Chief Jakari Young publicly confirmed is an employee of the store, emerging from the back of the store and exchanging gunfire with the suspect before ducking behind the counter and crawling away.
Another witness, also a store employee, approached Craiger from behind and struck him in the head with what appears to be a small statue, the affidavit said.
He fell to the ground still clutching the revolver and was struck again, this time with a small brass-colored vase.
Craiger was shot multiple times in the legs and also sustained a head injury, police said. The two store employees were not injured.
He is being charged with one count of first-degree murder and one count of attempted first-degree murder.
A native of Lebanon who immigrated to the United States, Ghazi opened Volusia Gold & Diamond 38 years ago alongside his wife, Leigh Osta.
Together, they had four children: Sienna, David, Pavlina, and Fiona Osta.
Pavlina, a reporter for CBS58 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, remembered her father in an Instagram post, writing in part, “He loved to joke and play and laugh. He was so silly and I loved to be silly with him. I miss him so, so much.”
Daughter Sienna organized a GoFundMe to help the family manage hospital and funeral expenses and navigate “a life ahead without Daddy.”
Known to many as Gus, the jeweler is described on the GoFundMe page as, “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.”
The page also called his son David a “hero,” as he was one of the witnesses who neutralized the shooter, saving himself and two other store employees.
As of Monday morning, donors had contributed a little over $3,000 to the GoFundMe.
Together, they had four children: Sienna, David, Pavlina, and Fiona Osta.
Pavlina, a reporter for CBS58 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, remembered her father in an Instagram post, writing in part, “He loved to joke and play and laugh. He was so silly and I loved to be silly with him. I miss him so, so much.”
Daughter Sienna organized a GoFundMe to help the family manage hospital and funeral expenses and navigate “a life ahead without Daddy.”
Known to many as Gus, the jeweler is described on the GoFundMe page as, “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.”
The page also called his son David a “hero,” as he was one of the witnesses who neutralized the shooter, saving himself and two other store employees.
As of Monday morning, donors had contributed a little over $3,000 to the GoFundMe.
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