Man Found Shot to Death in Meat Cooler

An employee of a Merrillville meat market was shot to death early Monday morning, possibly by a burglar.

Andrew Fugate, 27, of Hobart, Ind., arrived at Piatak Meats shortly before 4 a.m. to begin his shift. A store manager found his body in a meat cooler at about 7 a.m.

"There's not much I can say. I am like in a state of shock," co-owner Leo Roccoforte said.

Police say there are no surveillance cameras inside or outside the business.

The victim was the son of the one of the partners in the business.

Police are asking for the public's help in finding who is responsible.

"We have no absolutely no leads at his time. We're conducting followup investigation, interviewing family members, current and past employees," said Detective Robert Byrd of the Northwest Indiana Major Crimes Task Force.

Piatak's meats has been in the same location for more than 50 years.

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