Pizza shop owner dies a day after shooting

A 45-year-old man who operated a pizza shop in Dorchester died yesterday, one day after he was shot in the head by a robber who had stolen $60 from him, police said.

Mimin Manavoglu, 45, was behind the counter of Stalex Pizza on Norfolk Street at around 9:30 a.m. Thursday when Gary Johnson of Dorchester allegedly stole the money at gunpoint.

Johnson ran out of the store, pursued by Manavoglu. Johnson, 18, shot at the pursuing Manavoglu, striking him in the head, authorities alleged.

Manavoglu, a Turkish immigrant who lived in Brockton with his wife and three young children, was pronounced dead around 6 p.m. at Boston Medical Center, police said.

Johnson, who allegedly shed his clothing and tossed away his weapon as he ran, was arrested shortly after the shooting. Police said they found him hiding behind a tool shed on Woodrow Avenue.

Johnson was arraigned in Dorchester Municipal Court yesterday where he pleaded not guilty to armed assault with intent to murder and armed robbery while masked, among other charges, and was ordered held on $250,000 cash bail.

Suffolk District Attorney Daniel F. Conley, in a phone interview yesterday, said Johnson would be charged with first-degree murder.

"I think this is a tragedy on many different levels," said Conley.

"Every report we have is that this victim was a hard-working family man. This is just outrageous."

Johnson's lawyer could not be reached for comment last night.