Police Arrest Popeyes Employee in Restaurant Murder

Police say a man who had worked at the Brooklyn Park Popeyes off and on for seven years killed a Laurel woman who worked at the restaurant during a robbery.

Luzviminda Monreal, 47, of Laurel, was found dead in the back stock room of the restaurant in the 5300 block of Ritchie Highway, according to a statement from the Anne Arundel County Police Department. Officers were called at 8:08 a.m. on Sunday after a manager discovered the body upon opening the restaurant, police said.

Monreal had worked at the restaurant Saturday night, and it was unknown when the death occurred, according to police.

The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner has determined Monreal died from multiple sharp force injuries.

On Monday, police arrested Moises Gomez-Castillo, 26, of 114 West Jeffrey Street Unit #2 in Baltimore. Gomez-Castillo has been charged with first- and second-degree murder, first- and second-degree assault, and theft. Authorities say additional charges related to the robbery are anticipated.

Gomez-Castillo was arrested Monday afternoon in the Annapolis area and is incarcerated at the Anne Arundel County Detention Center on no bond.

Detectives say Gomez-Costillo pre-planned the robbery based on his knowledge of the management operations of the restaurant; he has worked for Popeye’s Louisiana Kitchen off and on for about seven years. An undisclosed amount of cash and other items have been recovered linking Gomez-Castillo to this robbery/murder, police say.

Anyone with information may contact Anne Arundel County homicide detectives at 410-222-8610 or Metro Crime Stoppers at 1-866-7LOCKUP.

Photo: Moises Gomez-Castillo is charged with murder. Credit: Anne Arundel County Police Department