Trial set to begin for man accused of killing store clerk in Leesburg

Trial to begin for man accused of killing Leesburg store clerk

Alex Lopez is accused of shooting and killing a store clerk during robbery at a Leesburg convenience store in 2024.

LAKE COUNTY, Fla. - The trial is set to start on Monday for a Florida man accused of shooting and killing a store clerk in Leesburg last year. 

Alex Lopez is accused of shooting Raied "Ray" Shihadeh during a robbery at the M&M Food Mart in Leesburg in May 2024. 

Surveillance video from the store showed a man walking into the store and shooting Shihadeh, who was on FaceTime with his wife at the time. The man is then seen hopping over the counter before fleeing the store, according to authorities. 

Shihadeh, a father of five, died from his injuries after being taken to a hospital.

Lopez evaded police for weeks before he was arrested in June 2024 at a hotel in Osceola County. He faces multiple charges, including murder.

Prosecutors have decided not to seek the death penalty in the case.