The body of 75-year old Louis Jacinto Duarte was found this morning with a bullet in his head at Auto Peçusa in the industrial zone of Pateiro near Estombar, Lagoa.
The victim was found around 8.00am on Monday by his son and employees turning up for work.
The crime was recorded as having been committed shortly between 7.00 and 8.00am possibly by a former employee whose image has been recorded on the video surveillance system at the premises.
The Judicial Police were soon on site to collect forensic data and are looking for the alleged murderer.
The offense seems to have been theft as the safe was empty an estimated €10,000 missing. It seems the thief also pinched the victim's van.
A source told Sul Informaçao that Luís Duarte had been contacted by phone by his alleged killer, who asked him to come in early because he needed to make a deal with him. Louis Duarte did so and was robbed and shot in the head.
PECUSA Auto Ltd is a well known local company that takes in scrap vehicles from the local catchment area as well as selling second hand spare parts.
The alleged murderer was a person well known to the victim, according to family, and was someone whom Luis Duarte often helped with money. A company spokesman added that the suspect lived in a caravan in a community nearby.
Local business owners sommented on Tuesday say that Sr Duarte was lured to the site by a promise of a good deal and told to bring €10,000 at 07.00, which he did with fatal results.
The stolen van was found the following day in nearby Calvario and the suspect is still on the run.
