Man in ‘wrong place, wrong time’ when shot at Gwinnett gas station

Vitali Mialik, 34, was shot and killed at a Gwinnett County gas station Friday night. (Credit: Channel 2 Action News)

Vitali Mialik, 34, was shot and killed at a Gwinnett County gas station Friday night. (Credit: Channel 2 Action News)

The sister of a man killed Friday in a gas station shooting says he was just in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Lena Mialik told Channel 2 Action News that her brother, Vitali Mialik, “was the kindest person ever.”

He was found about 11:15 p.m. in the parking lot of the Valero station in the 1700 block of Beaver Ruin Road in unincorporated Norcross, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution previously reported.

The 34-year-old, who had been a Suwanee resident for nine years, was trying to earn enough money to bring his wife and two children to the United States from the eastern European county of Belarus, Mialik told Channel 2.

The couple have a 4-year-old son and a 2-month-old daughter.

“We are trying to get her a visa so she can come and say goodbye to him,” Mialik told the television station.

Gwinnett Police released an image from a surveillance camera of the man they believe to be the shooter.

Gwinnett police spokeswoman Cpl. Michele Pihera told Channel 2 the motive is not likely drug related.

One of two armed men grabbed an assault rifle from an SUV and shot Mialik in the neck after the men left the store, Pihera said. The men then drove away.

The alleged shooter is described as 18-25 years old, 5-foot-9 to 6 feet tall, with a slim build and weighing 150 to 170 pounds.

The other man is described as 18-25 and of average height and build.

RELATED: 2 'armed, dangerous' men sought in Gwinnett shooting death

Anyone with information is asked to call police at 770-513-5300. Also, tipsters can remain anonymous, and be eligible for rewards of up to $2,000, by contacting Crime Stoppers Atlanta at 404-577-8477, texting information to 274637 or visiting crimestoppersatlanta.org.