A man reported missing earlier this week was found dead in the bathroom of a jewelry store in lower Manhattan and sources familiar with the investigation say he had zip ties around his neck. Wale Aliyu reports.
What to Know
- A 43-year-old man was found dead in the bathroom of a Tribeca jewelry store days after his brother reported him missing
- Sources say the man had zip ties around his neck and that there was blood on the floor of the bathroom
- Police are investigating his death as a homicide
A man reported missing earlier this week was found dead in the bathroom of a jewelry store in lower Manhattan and sources familiar with the investigation say he had zip ties around his neck.
Police said Omid Gholian was discovered dead in the bathroom of World of Gold N Diamonds on Church Street in Tribeca. He worked at the store, according to police.
His brother reported him missing at the 1st precinct on Monday. Police gained entry to the jewelry store Wednesday night and discovered his body.
Sources familiar with the investigation say there was a pool of blood in the bathroom.
Crime scene tape covered the store Thursday morning as investigators scoured the place for evidence. Friends and strangers dropped off flowers.
"[His death] brings a tear to my eye every moment I think about it," said friend Fred Laleh. "Very friendly person, every morning he waved to me."
Laleh, who owns a jewelry store down the street, says he and Gholian's brother had been looking for him since Tuesday. He says the 43-year-old store owner allegedly opened up shop at 9 a.m. Wednesday, but the store was closed at 10:30 a.m. Neither of them had heard from Gholian.
Local
"I dont think it's an inside job," he said. " I don't believe it, but maybe somebody upset, which I doubt. He wasn't violent person at all."
People who knew Gholian say an employee of the jewelry store is also missing.
A medical examiner will determine what killed Gholian, but police said the case is being investigated as a homicide. Authorities added they are checking inventory to see if anything was stolen from the store.
