Peter Mielke, an employee at Reginelli’s Pizzeria at 5303B Bissonnet, was gunned down during an apparent robbery attempt on Sunday, February 21.
According to a report by KTRK Channel 13, at 9:30 p.m. on Sunday, February 21, Reginelli’s employees were preparing to close for the night when an armed robber shot and killed Mielke, who was standing closest to the cash register. Mielke reportedly was not resisting the robber at all when he was murdered.
Reginelli’s Pizzeria is based in New Orleans and has ten locations. The owner reportedly flew to Houston after the murder to assist police with the investigation, including retrieving surveillance video. The hope is that the video might shed some light on the identity of the killer and why the incident turned violent. For now, Mielke’s killer is still at large.
Funds have been set up to assist with the young man’s funeral expenses. In Houston, donors should visit any Amegy Bank branch to make a deposit in the Peter Mielke Memorial Fund. In New Orleans, donations should go to the fund Whitney Bank.
A statement from Reginelli’s Pizzeria says that Mielke worked for the company for almost a year and was a “well-liked, valued member of our team.”
The statement concludes as follows:
“The restaurant will remain closed for the immediate future. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Mielke family and our employees. We ask the community for your support today as you have supported us since we arrived in Houston. We look forward to continuing to be part of the Bellaire community.”
The circumstances of Peter Mielke’s death embody the nightmares of every parent whose children are old enough to work.
This article appears in 2016 Spring Arts & Events.