Employee found dead at Mimmo's Mozzarella Italian Market in North Miami

Police say victim shot to death in back room

NORTH MIAMI, Fla. – An employee was found dead Wednesday night inside an Italian market in North Miami, authorities said.

Police were called to Mimmo's Mozzarella Italian Market and Cafe at 475 NE 123rd St. about 8 p.m. after a concerned citizen found one of the doors to the business open after it was already closed.

Police said Jose Gonzalez, 29, who was supposed to close the business, was found shot to death in a back room of the market.

"Mimmo's is like a family-owned business. We all go there for lunch. Some of us pick up dinner there on the way home, so there was never a problem there and it’s frequented a lot by us," North Miami police Officer Natalie Buissereth said.

Police said a motive is not known and detectives are speaking to people who live and work in the area to find out whether there were any witnesses.

"Detectives are being very, very tight-lipped with the information that's being provided because this is ongoing and at the same time everything is very sensitive right now," Buissereth said.

Authorities said the owners of the market are cooperating in the investigation and have offered a reward for anyone who comes forward with information that leads to an arrest.

The market remained closed on Friday.

Anyone with information is asked to call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-TIPS.


About the Authors:

Amanda Batchelor is the Digital Executive Producer for Local10.com.