Police resume search for man who fatally shot auto supply store clerk in Rostraver
Joe Minniti doesn't know why a sales clerk was gunned down in what police called a “targeted” shooting inside his Rostraver auto supply store, a friend said.
Police resumed a search for the gunman Tuesday and reviewed surveillance footage in hopes of identifying him. No arrest has been made.
Minniti was in the back of Minniti Motorsports on Monday when he heard multiple gunshots, family members said. He found Drew James Molinari, 34, of Belle Vernon lying on the floor with several gunshot wounds.
A man wearing a blue hoodie walked into the business shortly after it opened arbout 8 a.m., opened fire, then fled, police said.
“I have no idea” of a motive,” said Tom Kelly, a friend. “Neither does Joey.”
Molinari was shot in the head and torso, said Westmoreland County Deputy Coroner John Ackerman. He declined to say how many times Molinari was shot or the type weapon used.
Minniti, a 45-year-old diabetic, remained in Mon Valley Hospital, where he was taken for treatment of elevated blood sugar after the shooting, said his mother, Mary Minniti of Belle Vernon. She declined further comment.
Kelly owns the building in the Tri-County Shopping Plaza where the auto parts shop is located. The plaza off Interstate 70 is part of a commercial district crammed with fast-food restaurants, drug stores, service stations and retail outlets.
Minniti opened the business about 15 months ago in the back of a building shared with a Payless shoe store and a MedExpress urgent care center.
Minniti and Molinari worked at Kelly's former auto parts store.
“He was a happy-go-lucky guy,” Kelly said of Molinari. “I never had issues with him. He was always helpful to me. I never had an issue with him whatsoever.”
Tina Boyd, who began delivering auto parts for Minniti two weeks ago, described Molinari as “flashing money” around her. She got the impression he was trying to impress her, Boyd said.
But Kelly said he never saw Molinari with a lot of cash.
Kelly said he and Molinari liked to talk about boats. Molinari recently bought a used one that he planned to take on the Monongahela River, Kelly said.
Darrell Molinari said he and his son had plans to rebuild a 1966 Corvette that the elder Molinari owns.
“We were really looking forward to that,” his father said.
Molinari's younger brother, Chuck Stephenson, posted a message on Facebook, pleading that anyone with information about the shooting contact police. Contacted Tuesday, he declined further comment.
Drew Molinari graduated from Brownsville Area High School, according to his Facebook page.
Court records show he was on probation after pleading guilty in Fayette County in August to attempting to elude police, reckless endangerment, disorderly conduct and motor vehicle violations.
His criminal record in Westmoreland, Washington and Fayette counties dates to 2003.
He has been on probation three times previously for offenses that include providing law enforcement false identification; stalking, loitering, prowling and harassment; and carrying unlicensed firearms.
Molinari “was working through his problems” and was “getting on the right track,” his father said.
Molinari was a member of First Christian Church of Fayette City, according to his obituary. An avid pool player, he belonged to the Belgium, Russian and Slovak clubs in Charleroi.
He is survived by his mother, Dawn Brady, and her husband, Martin, of Tionesta; his father, Darrell Molinari and his wife, Cathy, of Charleroi; a brother, Chuck Stephenson of Belle Vernon; and his grandmother, Paula Gaydos Dutchko of Belle Vernon, with whom he resided.
Funeral arrangements are being handled by Rhome Funeral Home Inc., 1209 Grand Blvd., Monessen. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 today. Services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday in the funeral home. Interment will follow in Belle Vernon Cemetery.
Contributions may be made to the family through the funeral home.
Bob Stiles is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. He can be reached at 724-836-6622 or bstiles@tribweb.com.
