Local Mexican police authorities are investigating the February 15 shooting death of Joel Amilcar Hernandez, who served as general manager of the Seventh-day Adventist-owned Inter-American Health Food branch in Navojoa, Sonora, Mexico. Hernandez died near his home. He was 43 years old.

"We are shocked and saddened by his death," said Joel Zukovski, director of the Inter-American Health Food Company, headquartered in Miami, Florida. "Our prayers go out to his family and the staff at Colpac...he was a good manager and will be greatly missed." Zukovski plans to travel to Mexico to meet with Hernandez's family and Colpac's office staff.

Hernandez, a native of Panama, had been managing Colpac since 2001 and previously worked as the general manager of the Cetebedi branch in Costa Rica.

He is survived by his wife Ruth and three sons. A memorial service is planned for this weekend.