ELYRIA — The Lorain man accused of robbing and shooting to death Lorain grocery store owner Jose Gonzalez was arraigned Thursday in county Common Pleas Court.

CHUCK HUMEL/CHRONICLE

Decio Rodrigues Jr. is led into court for his arraignment Thursday in Lorain County Common Pleas Court.

Decio Rodrigues, 24, of Lorain, pleaded not guilty to charges of aggravated murder, murder, aggravated robbery, having weapons under disability, felonious assault and theft. If convicted, he could face the death penalty. He remained in the county jail with bond set at $3 million.

Police say Rodrigues entered Gonzalez Grocery on Jan. 25 and robbed the 47-year-old Gonzalez before shooting him several times with the shopkeeper’s gun.

After the shooting, police spent the next 24 hours searching for a suspect and, using tips from residents that a man was bragging about his involvement, attempted to capture Rodrigues on Broadway about 2 p.m.

Rodrigues ran, but was picked up that evening and charged.

Rodrigues’ attorney, Kenneth Ortner, said his client maintains his innocence.

“He said he didn’t do it,” Ortner said.

Gonzalez’s wife, Lilliam, attended the arraignment and sobbed on her daughter’s shoulder while the indictment was read. The family declined to comment afterward.

Contact Stephen Szucs at 329-7129 or sszucs@chroniclet.com.

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