Murdered clerk had recently gotten married

ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. — The family of a murdered St. Augustine clerk is making arrangements to travel from India to Florida Thursday to attend their loved one's funeral.

Friends of Malav Desai, 29, are lending their support to his young wife who recently tied the knot with Desai.

Desai was in his prime, his energy was evident in the photos his friends shared with Action News.

His best friend Parth Patel said it's difficult to comprehend why his life was taken so violently.

"He's like a brother to me so it's a big loss to everyone he was a really nice man, he was concerned about everybody," said Patel.

The store where he worked on Masters Drive is shuttered and a sign on the door says they'll be closed for a few days, it also asks for prayers for the family.

Police said Desai was shot to death inside the store by two teenagers who then led police on a high-speed chase.

Robert Isham who runs the Christian Service Center next door said he ran over after hearing the shots.

"He was lying on the floor he had obviously been shot in the head, [we] came over and we prayed for him until the police came," said Isham.

The memorial in front of the store is growing. All day people have stopped by leaving flowers and cards.

Store regular Elizabeth Olivo dropped off some flowers along with her grandmother.

"He was a happy person, you could have a rough day and walk in and he could make you smile," said Olivo.

Isham and a few others gathered in front of the store and while laying their hands on the building they prayed not just for Desai but also for the two teens accused of killing him.

According to Patel, Desai moved to Florida from South Carolina. He said he was concerned about Desai's well being.

"Yes I did tell him a couple of times that. I do work part-time at a convenience store and this has happened to me before. I was just lucky enough you know, nothing went bad," said Patel.

Patel said Desai was a hardworking man who had two jobs, he wants people to know how much his friend loved life.

"He was too young for this to happen to him, it's just everyone is so shocked right now," said Patel.

There will be a memorial for Desai this Friday at 7 p.m. at the Landmark Family Center on Masters Drive.

The pastor of Landmark Family Church on Masters Drive said his team will hold a prayer service for the victim's family on Friday at 7 p.m.

SAPD and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement are investigating the case.

WJAX