Shopkeeper, 79, shot and killed while working final shift before retirement

Ali Arezoumandifar was working a final shift at his Florida store

Ali Arezoumandifar was working his final shift (Boynton Beach Police)

After a masked thief stole $300 worth of lottery tickets from his Florida liquor store, 79-year-old Ali Arezoumandifar was persuaded by his family that it was finally time to retire.

So he sold the business in Boynton Beach and agreed to help the new owners get the hang of the business by working a handful of shifts. Last Sunday night was to have been his final shift; after that he would be enjoying his retirement.

But as Mr Arezoumandifar’s family waited at home for him and prepared a celebratory dinner, they received a devastating call from the police: he had been shot and killed as he manned the counter and his body had been discovered by a customer.

His daughter, Soheila Marchal, and son Alex Arezoumandifar, visited the crime scene to plead for information about the attack.

Ali Arezoumandifar was working his final shift (Twitter)

“They came and they murdered him last night,” said Ms Marchal, according to the Sun Sentinel.

“I’m begging of anybody who knows anything to come forward. Call the police department. Let’s get these guys. He didn't deserve it. He didn't deserve the way he died. We miss him.”

Boynton Beach Police Investigator Marco Villari said that when a property was involved in a crime, it was easier to understand. The officer had investigated the previous incident and encouraged Mr Arezoumandifar to agree to his family’s request to retire.

“When a life is taken, that hurts,” he said.

Magnolia Salgado, 25, who works in the same plaza where Mr Arezoumandifar’s store was located, said he was “very nice and sweet”.

“It’s very sad that that happened to him,” she said.