Employee fatally shot inside Austin grocery store

A gunman burst into a grocery store on the West Side and fatally shot an employee Tuesday morning in Austin.

The shooting happened about 11:35 a.m. at Sanford Foods in the 500 block of North Laramie Avenue. The victim, a 32-year-old man, suffered gunshots to his head and body and was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital where he later died, Chicago police said.

The shooter, who was unknown to the victim, and possibly one more person fled in an unknown direction, authorities said.

According to a store manager, the employee who was killed was working near the meat counter at the back of the store when the gunman walked in wearing a mask. The suspect made a beeline to the back of the store and fired shots at the worker before fleeing.

The man had worked at the store for about three weeks, the manager said, adding he believes the attack was targeted because the suspects didn’t demand money or steal anything.

In a statement, local Ald. Emma Mitts (37th) also said the attack appeared to be targeted based on her conversations with investigators. She added the man was a father of three children.

“I offer my deepest condolences, blessings and sympathy to the family, friends and co-workers over the senseless loss of their valued person,” Mitts said.

The store was closed for the day by early Tuesday afternoon. Students at Moving Everest Charter School just down the street were confused by the locked doors as they tried to enter to buy after-school snacks.

The manager said the store would reopen Wednesday.

No one was in custody. Area 4 detectives are investigating.

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