On Sunday, Pavlina Osta, a local reporter from Milwaukee, took to social media to share the devastating news that her father had been fatally shot at their family-owned jewelry business in Florida.
According to a report by The Daytona Beach News-Journal on Friday, an 83-year-old man named John Craiger has been accused of shooting and killing Ghazi (Gus) Osta at Volusia Gold & Diamond. Craiger has been charged with first-degree murder and attempted first-degree murder.
According to Daytona Beach Police Chief Jakari Young, it seems that the shooting was a result of a disagreement between Osta and Craiger, who happened to be a customer, rather than an act of robbery.
According to the family, a GoFundMe campaign has been established to support Osta, who was reportedly a victim of a frequent customer’s violent attack. The family also reported that a brave employee shot and injured the attacker, potentially saving the lives of the employee and two others.
The Osta family is currently accepting donations to cover the costs of hospital and funeral expenses. As of early Sunday afternoon, they have raised just over $1,000 out of the $40,000 goal. Any support is greatly appreciated.
The family expressed their deep sorrow over the loss of their father, who was a passionate advocate for helping those in his community. They shared how much he loved his community and how much they loved him in return. They also acknowledged that his absence would leave a significant void in their lives. They stated that this was an incredibly challenging time for them, and they humbly requested the support of their community during this difficult period.
Pavlina Osta, who comes from a family of four children, recently started working as an anchor and reporter for CBS58 in the spring. She has previously worked in Michigan and New York City. On Sunday morning, she took to Instagram to express how she was feeling and shared that the pain she was experiencing was excruciating.
According to Osta, she has returned to her hometown to be with her family. She had planned to visit Florida over the weekend, but unfortunately, her flights got canceled due to a global technology outage, which caused multiple flight cancellations or delays at Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport.
Osta expressed her deep sadness and longing for her loved one by saying, “I miss him so much. The fact that I was so close to seeing him only adds to the pain, making it unbearable. Please keep us in your prayers as we try to navigate through this new reality.”
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