Police ID woman found dead at Mesa smoke shop

MESA - Police have identified the woman found dead at a Mesa smoke shop Sunday night.

Mesa police said Tuesday that the victim was 51-year-old Mi-Sum Price, who was known to her customers as "Mimi."

The Gilbert woman immigrated from South Korea with her parents at age 7 and owned the Cigarettes 4 Less store near Main Street and Greenfield Road.

A 911 call came in just after 7:30 p.m. from a customer who found the victim dead behind the counter.

Police said the woman died from obvious signs of trauma, and it appears to have happened during a robbery.

Customers say Price worked 12-hour days, seven days a week and had plans to open a second store.

"She was hardworking," said Mariah, a long time customer. "I came here this morning and she is gone. It is not fair."

Police are evaluating surveillance video from the shop to see if it helps generate any leads. With so few businesses open at the time, police do not have any witnesses to rely on for information.

Meanwhile a small memorial is growing outside the shop.

Police are still  searching for a suspect.