US: Killer of Israeli jeweler still at large
Yekutiel Zeevi was shot dead last week at his Westport, Connecticut store during apparent robbery. Local Israeli community shocked
WASHINGTON - The Israeli who was shot and killed during an apparent robbery of his jewelry business in Westport, Connecticut on Thursday has been identified as 65-year-old Yekutiel Zeevi.
Zeevi, who was born in Tel Aviv, resided in the US for the past 30 years. His funeral was scheduled to take place on Sunday in Connecticut.
Zeevi's Israeli business associate, Ronen Konfino (48), was critically hurt in the shooting, but was able to alert the police. His condition later improved and was defined as stable.
An investigation into the murder revealed that the two men knew the shooter, who apparently had met Zeevi on Wednesday and returned the next day to rob the store.
Local report on Zeevi's shooting
The store, YZ Jewelry, is located on the second floor of the Compo Shopping Center. Photos of the suspect were obtained from surveillance cameras inside the store.
Security camera photo of murder suspect
Police described the suspect as a white male, about 5 feet, 10 inches to 6 feet tall, in his early to mid-40s, with short salt-and-pepper hair, several days of facial hair growth and footwear that looked like cowboy boots.
He is believed to have fled the scene in a "boxy" blue, four-door vehicle, police said.
The images, police said, were taken about 11 am Wednesday when the suspect had apparently met with the victim at his Post Road East business a day before the fatal appointment, at about 10 pm Thursday.
The small Israeli community in Westport was shocked by the murder. Zeevi's family described him as a generous, pleasant man who would frequent the local synagogue. "This is a great loss," his friend, Edi Elias, told Ynet.
Zeevi is survive by his wife, Nava, and son, Dr. Neer Zeevi.
