Treasure Coast family feels ‘tremendous relief’ after arrest of father’s alleged killer

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — Some relief, but no sense of closure, for a Treasure Coast family after the man police say murdered their loved one is now behind bars.

The Leesburg Police Department announced Wednesday the arrest of Alex Lopez, 25, nearly a month after he was charged with the May 30 murder of convenience store owner Raied Shihadeh, 51, in central Florida.

WPTV reporter Stephanie Susskind reconnected with the victim’s family Friday as they struggle to move forward, while clinging to memories of the past.

“It was like someone was stepping on my chest. And when he called me to tell me that Alex Lopez had been arrested, it was like that foot had come off my chest and the weight had been lifted off,” Monique Shihadeh, Raied’s wife, told Susskind.

“That’s a very powerful way to describe it,” Susskind responded. “It allows us to feel the pain you went through. »

“Yes. And that’s what my children are going through,” Monique said. “They miss their father as much as I miss my husband.”

Monique said her family can now begin their journey to healing after the man accused of her husband’s murder is in prison.

“You have this monster that comes along, and it makes you question the humanity of others, the kindness of others, the lack of righteous love in the world,” Monique said.

On May 30, Monique’s husband, Raied, was working at his convenience store in Leesburg, a few hours from the family’s Port St. Lucie home, when an armed man, identified by police as Lopez, entered, stole money and shot the beloved family. man, killing him.

“I had to change all my ringtones and sounds, because it’s really hard. I know I’m not going to hear from him anymore,” Monique said.

“It’s those little things, isn’t it? Those little moments throughout your day that trigger that wave of emotion,” Susskind said.

“It’s true. It’s an ongoing thing,” Monique said.

After nearly a month on the run, police, with the help of state law enforcement, arrested Lopez Wednesday at a Kissimmee hotel. He appeared in court on Thursday.

“I can’t tell you how much my husband’s death has affected us, but I also think about the impact that Lopez walking around free has had on my family. The fact that he is now about to face the consequences of his actions has been a huge relief,” Monique said.

As the family continues to take it one day at a time, they choose to look on the bright side.

“Through this tragedy, you really see humanity. You see real kindness. You see real empathy and sympathy. And you can’t be jaded by the world, by the actions of one person. Because for that person, there were 50 others who inspired others to do a kind act,” Monique said.