Pizza Restaurant Co-Owner Found Dead In DC

VIA MYFOXDC:

WASHINGTON, D.C. – D.C. Police say they discovered the body of one of the owners of the 24-hour Pizza Mart on Tuesday afternoon, and all of the doors to the restaurant were locked.

Fire investigators and an accelerant dog were on the scene, and FOX 5 heard at least one report of an argument out in front of the restaurant between the victim and an unknown person. A witness said it took place around 5:30 a.m. Tuesday.

There are lots of unanswered questions as a family and community grieve.

The victim was 44-year-old Shahabuddin Rana, a Silver Spring resident, is one of two brothers who own and operate the Northeast D.C. Pizza Mart on 4th Street NE.

The small business owner known for being kind and hard-working lost his life inside the place he tried to build into his future. Police say the victim’s brother showed up at 8 a.m. and discovered all the doors locked. But it’s a 24-hour operation, and his brother was supposed to be working inside.

Five hours went by as the victim’s brother searched for answers. By 1 p.m., he involved police.

Detectives found Rana’s shoes near the front door, but his body was discovered much further back behind a food preparation area. How he died, who’s responsible, and why were all the doors locked are all questions homicide investigators are trying to answer as the community tries to make sense of the loss.

Read more here.