LEESBURG, FL – A Florida man was convicted Wednesday in the fatal shooting and robbery of a convenience store clerk whose wife helplessly witnessed the tragic event over a video call.

Alex Lopez, 26, was found guilty of first-degree murder, armed robbery, and several related offenses in connection with the killing of 51-year-old Raied “Ray” Shihadeh at the M & M Food Mart. The crime took place in Leesburg, about 40 miles northwest of Orlando, on May 30.

Following the jury’s verdict, Judge Brian Welke handed down a life sentence to Lopez, ruling out the possibility of parole.

During the trial, jurors heard harrowing testimony from Shihadeh’s wife, Monique, who was on a FaceTime call with him at the moment his life was taken. She recounted hearing her husband plead before a gunshot echoed through the line. Moments later, the phone screen blurred as the assailant moved across the camera’s view, and Monique screamed, aware something dreadful had happened.

According to investigators, Lopez fired multiple shots, striking Shihadeh as he worked behind the register. After initially wounding the clerk, Lopez stepped over him to fire again before making off with less than $100 in cash and a vape. After Lopez fled, the phone call remained connected as Monique cried out in distress.

A short time later, a customer entered the store, discovered Shihadeh on the ground, and heard Monique’s desperate cries over the phone. The customer called 911, prompting police to rush to the scene.

First responders found Shihadeh suffering from gunshot wounds to the abdomen and head. He was airlifted to a nearby hospital but died shortly after arrival, according to authorities.

Detectives began their investigation by circulating surveillance images of the suspect. Soon, multiple tips poured in to police, including information from Lopez’s own cousin, which led investigators to identify him as the prime suspect.

Lopez managed to avoid authorities for several weeks before he was finally apprehended at a hotel in Kissimmee, ending a multi-county search.

Shihadeh’s death left behind a grieving family, including his wife and five children, who sat through the emotional proceedings in court as justice was served.

Prosecutors said the case illustrated the senseless violence inflicted for only a small sum of money. While the conviction brought a measure of closure, the Shihadeh family continues to cope with the devastating loss of a beloved husband and father.