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Owner Of New Jersey Fireplace Business Dead After Shooting

SOUTH HACKENSACK, N.J. (CBSNewYork) -- The owner of a New Jersey fireplace and chimney business has died, after being shot multiple times during a robbery at his store.

Richard Zarriello, 51, was shot six times over the weekend at Clean Sweep Chimney Depot on Route 46 in South Hackensack, investigators said.

He was pronounced dead at 3:45 p.m. Monday, WCBS 880's Jim Smith reported.

The business is now an official crime scene with the forensic team from the Bergen County Prosecutor's Office there, CBS2's Emily Smith reported. A homicide investigation was under way Monday night, Smith reported.

Owner Of New Jersey Fireplace Dead After Shooting

Neighboring business owners responded in disbelief Monday saying they didn't know him well, but he seemed like a solid business owner, Smith reported.

"I'm a new business owner. He's been in business awhile -- always there to help me," one man said.

"It's always scary. Nothing too dramatic has happened -- nothing like that over the years. But I'm sure they'll get to the bottom of it," a neighboring business owner told Smith.

Jessica Levine met with Zarriello and his business partner a few months ago to see if he was interested in digital advertising, Smith reported.

Richard Zarriello Shot At Clean Sweep Chimney Depot  In Hackensack
(credit: CBS2)

Levine said there weren't any customers in the store but the phones were ringing.

"He just seemed like a businessman. He was busy, he was trying to run his business. The phones were ringing and he was kind of doing work but he was a very nice man. He wasn't rude in any way," said Levine.

Mike McGourn, manager of American Van Equipment next door, said the fatal shooting does not change his view of the commercial strip.

"No, not at all," he said. "This area is actually patrolled very highly by the South Hackensack police; do a tremendous job."

Zarriello lives about 40 minutes from the business in Chestnut Ridge in Rockland County.

Family members called 911, Smith reported.

Investigators want to know who shot Zarriello and whether he was targeted.

So far, no one is in custody. Investigators still can't pinpoint when this happened, other than to say his family had not seen him in a few days, Smith reported.

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