Mike Gilotti Photos.jpg

Jonathan Michael "Mike" Gilotti

(Facebook)

A man was shot to death early this morning when he was leaving his Hoover home to go to the gym.

Authorities identified the victim as 33-year-old Jonathan Michael "Mike" Gilotti, a husband and a father of two sons. It's possible, authorities said, he encountered someone who was responsible for a rash of car break-ins overnight in the Lake Cyrus community.

Hoover police Tuesday night announced they have recovered key evidence in the slaying.

The shooting happened at 4:55 a.m. in the 5500 block of Park Side Circle. Hoover police Capt. Gregg Rector said Gilotti was leaving his home to go to his morning workout when he encountered someone either in his driveway or his car.

One shot was fired, and Gilloti collapsed at his front door. He was pronounced dead on the scene.

Rector confirmed Gilotti was an Iraq war veteran. He served as a U.S. Army tank commander, first lieutenant and platoon leader in the 12th Cavalry Regiment, and wrote about his experience while in Baghdad, including one 2007 article about how US and Iraqi forces provided water to a Baghdad neighborhood. "It took a water crisis to give U.S. and Iraqi forces an opportunity to earn the trust of the residents in the western neighborhood of Shula in the Iraqi capital," Gilotti wrote.

An Avon, Connecticut native, Gilotti worked at the State Farm claims office on Lakeshore Parkway. Co-workers said they were not authorized to speak about Gilotti but said the entire office is devastated. "Our hearts go out to his family, friends, and coworkers and he will be greatly missed," said State Farm spokesman Roszell Gadson.

He and his wife, Heather, were married in 2008 in Baldwin County and later moved to Hoover where they lived with their sons.

Hoover police investigated five homicides in 2015. The city has had 21 murders over the past 10 years, and hasn't had an unsolved murder since 2004.

"I know from my perspective it angers us,'' Rector said. "This victim was about as innocent of a victim as you could get."

"This is an individual that served his country, he's a hard-working guy,'' Rector said. "He lives in a nice subdivision. He's getting up early in the morning to go work out. He's providing for his family and kids and then he encounters some ruthless individual. It might have been the case where stealing something from a car is more important than human life."

Rector said they are investigating at least 10 car break-ins overnight in the same neighborhood. "We're obviously looking at every possible scenario,'' he said. "But he may have surprised someone breaking into cars in the neighborhood."

Police are asking that any resident who observed suspicious persons or vehicles in the area, especially between 4 a.m. and 5 a.m., to contact detectives. Additionally, Rector said, police are searching for any homeowners that have video surveillance monitors at their homes.

Any resident who believes their vehicle was burglarized overnight and has not yet filed a report with police is asked to do so. "It's critical that crime scene investigators are able to examine any car break-in evidence that might be related to the shooting," Rector said.

Hoover school officials sent out an email to parents today saying the Deer Valley Elementary School school resource officer that would be following the bus this afternoon to assure all students get home safely. The slaying also rocked the usually-quiet neighborhood.

"People are scared and reactive. One of my neighbors has an appointment with ADT to come out and install a new security system tomorrow,'' said Lake Cyrus resident Amy Newell. "Others, like me, were totally oblivious that anything was going on until we saw the story break this morning."

"My dog woke me up a little before 5 a.m. barking. I thought he wanted to go outside,'' Newell said. "By the time I got up and let him out, the police and ambulance were already there. Hoover police are quick to respond to any call. Their presence in our neighborhood and community is comforting."

Anyone with information should call Sgt. Keith Czeskleba at 205-739-6795 or the Hoover Police Department at 205-822-5300. Tipsters can remain anonymous by calling Crime Stoppers at 205-254-7777.