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Police Seek Motive In Murder Of Pizzeria Partner

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Aug 12, 2008 9:56 am US/Central

Police Seek Motive In Murder Of Pizzeria Partner

Jason Mueller Was Shot To Death This Weekend

CHICAGO (CBS) ― Police have no solid motive in the slaying of the part owner of an Old Town pizzeria early Sunday on the Near West Side.

The man, identified as Jason Mueller, 29, by the Cook County Medical Examiner's office, was gunned down about 5:45 a.m. in the 400 block of North Wolcott Avenue, according to Wood District police.

As of early Tuesday, detectives have "no solid motive or leads" in the case, a Harrison Area police sergeant said.

Mueller, who was a part-owner of Nonna's Italian Pizzeria at 1543 N. Sedgwick St., was fatally shot after giving a friend a ride home after a night out, according to friend and co-worker Heather Oestmann Schwartz. Schwartz said Mueller went out for a while Saturday night and then drove a friend home in her car. He may have been trying to get a cab home when he was shot, she said.

"Jason had no enemies. Everyone who knew Jason liked Jason. We don't see any reason why anyone would have done this," she said.

Friends and family are offering a $10,000 reward in hopes that someone will come forward with information.

"We really want to find out how this happened, why this happened and who did this because there is no reason for a young, successful man like Jason to have this happen to him," Schwartz said.

A witness told police they heard three shots, looked out of their home window and saw the man lying on the street, a police source said.

Mueller, of 1539 N. Wells St., was pronounced dead at John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County at 6:23 a.m., according to the medical examiner's office.

An autopsy Monday showed Mueller died of multiple gunshot wounds and his death was ruled a homicide.

Two offenders were apparently seen walking southbound on Wolcott Avenue following the shooting, according to the source.

No one is in custody for the shooting Tuesday morning and Harrison Area detectives are investigating, the sergeant said.

The STNG Wire contributed to this report.

(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

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