'It's almost beyond comprehension': Family mourns 83-year-old man killed after being shoved by thief at Home Depot

Hillsborough police said Gary Rasor died on Thursday after being assaulted by a man on Oct. 18 at the Hillsborough Home Depot where Gary Rasor was an employee; He was 82 years old at the time of the crime, but celebrated a birthday before his death.

Gary Rasor was a favorite among customers at the Home Depot, where most knew him as 'Mr. Gary.'

"Everyone loves him, he's an outstanding individual," Andy Simmons with Hillsborough police said at the time. "And then somebody does something like this to him just to commit a larceny, it’s absolutely ridiculous."

His family told WRAL News he was supposed to come home for Christmas and the family was planning on taking a vacation with all the grandchildren.

His wife Yovonne Rasor was looking forward to spending this holiday with family and the New Year traveling with her husband.

“I’ve always wanted to go to the Panama Canal so we were going to start planning after the grandkid trip and now we’re not,” said Yovonne Rasor.

83-year-old Gary Rasor was working at the Home Depot on Hampton Pointe in Hillsborough when a shoplifter shoved him to the concrete floor.

Surveillance footage shows the thief walking past Gary and pushing him down on his way out the door of the garden center with stolen merchandise on his cart.

His son said the footage is disturbing.

“This is 100% planned and to include violence for a couple of power washers. It’s almost beyond comprehension," Jeff Rasor. "I’m not gonna stop. We’re gonna keep looking and someday they’re gonna make a mistake and that day will be a good day.”

Gary Rasor was left with several fractured bones and spent weeks in the hospital. He was never able to walk again.

His wife said his condition quickly took a turn for the worst.

“What hurts me the most is Gary was fine. He was not upset. He was upbeat until he saw the video and he lost it,” said Yovonne Rasor. “It was a trauma; That’s what the doctors have already said, the trauma caused the acceleration of fibrosis.”

The man's death has rejuvenated an effort by Hillsborough police to find the suspect, a man seen on camera stealing several pressure washers. Police are now investigating the case as a homicide.

Hillsborough police are investigating the case and hope information from the public that will assist in identifying the person responsible

The man left the scene in a white, four-door, Hyundai Sonata with an obscured North Carolina temporary tag.

The family said Home Depot has been very supportive.

Gary Rasor’s memorial will be December 9 at Clements Funeral in Hillsborough.