FALL RIVER, MASS. (WHDH) - Authorities are turning to the public for help as they search for a man who fatally shot a beloved Fall River convenience store owner late Monday night.
Investigators say the man they’re searching for is 5 feet, 7 inches to 5 feet, 9 inches tall and between 20 and 30 years old. He had a light complexion and was last seen wearing a gray backpack and gray Nike sneakers with white accents. He has a tattoo on the right outer portion of the hand near the base of the thumb.
Anyone with information is urged to call Fall River police.
Dylan Orlowski says he and his roommate called 911 after going into the Stop N Save on Rock Street around 10:30 p.m. and finding the owner of the store on the floor behind the counter with blood on his chest, according to the Bristol District Attorney’s Office.
“We wanted to be as far away ASAP so we ran, we were concerned for our safety,” said Orlowski.
First responders transported the victim, later identified as Lal Kishor Mahaseth, 54, of Fall River, to Charlton Memorial Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 11:14 p.m., the DA’s office said.
Friends say Mahaseth, the husband and father of three, was actively involved in the community.
“It’s like a big loss, it’s like you’re losing someone who is always there for you. He’s like a father, like a big brother,” said Sanjay Sah.
At his store, customers left flowers in his memory. Those customers say Mahaseth did whatever he could to help anyone who needed it.
“He would lower the prices so he would make sure you could get anything you need,” said Sabrinna Leeabreu.
An investigation remains ongoing.
Anyone who was in the area of the incident between 9 and 10:30 p.m. is asked to call the Major Crimes Division of the Fall River Police Department 508-676-8511.
This is a developing news story; stay with 7NEWS on-air and online for the latest details.
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