Thursday, 4:30 PM
Pizza shop owner who chased robber dies
By John R. Ellement, Globe Staff
A Dorchester pizza shop owner who was shot while chasing an armed robber died this evening at Boston Medical Center, Boston police said.
Mimin Manavoglu, 45, was behind the counter of his Norfolk Street shop at around 9:30 a.m. Thursday when Gary Johnson of Dorchester walked in and allegedly robbed the Turkish immigrant at gunpoint.
Johnson fled the store with $60 but was pursued by Manavoglu. Johnson shot at the pursuing Manavoglu, striking him in the head, authorities said.
A Brockton resident and the father of three small children, the owner of the Stalex Pizza shop was pronounced dead at 6 p.m. today, police said.
Prosecutors said Johnson would be charged with murder.
"I think this is a tragedy on many different levels," said Suffolk District Attorney Dan Conley. "Every report we have is that this victim was a hard-working family man. This is just outrageous."
Johnson, who allegedly shed his clothing and tossed away his weapon as he ran, was arrested shortly after the shooting when police found him hiding behind a tool shed on Woodrow Avenue.
Johnson was arraigned in Dorchester Municipal Court today.
He pleaded not guilty to armed assault with intent to murder, armed robbery while masked and other charges and was ordered held on $250,000 cash bail.
Conley said the charges would be upgraded now that Manavoglu has died.
Johnson's attorney, identified by prosecutors as Arnie Lucinda Stewart, could not be reached for comment tonight.
