The brother of a murdered South Nashville restaurant owner is begging for anyone with information to come forward.
"I want to know what happened to my brother," said Zelaleen Amarre, the younger brother of Gitem Demissie. "So if anyone is out there that knows who did this I beg you please, please, bring justice for my brother."
Demissie was shot multiple times by a masked gunman inside his own restaurant along Murfreesboro Pike. Police said the shooter entered the business near midnight on Sunday, shot Demissie, then left. The suspect did not steal anything and ignored a second person inside the bar at the time, which is why officers believe this was a targeted incident.
Amarre said his brother was like a father figure to many and was known for working 18 hour days at his businesses. Demissie also owned Ibex Mart, one of Nashville's few Ethiopian grocery stores.
"He is a really caring, loving, friendly person. He loved helping people," Amarre said. "If it wasn’t for him, I wouldn’t be here today. He helped me through a lot of hard times. I was able to go to school because of him without working. He paid everything for me."
Demissie was Amarre's only brother, the rest of their immediate family lives in Ethiopia. An Antioch church plans to hold a memorial service for Demissie this Wednesday, but he will ultimately be buried in Ethiopia.
Police are working to access surveillance cameras to help identify the gunman. The shooter is described as about 5'7" and slender with light skin.
"I will not rest or sleep until I find out who did this to him," Amarre said. "I will always remember him. He will be in my thoughts every single day."
