Gunmen Who Killed Tavern Owner Didn't Force Their Way Inside: Cops

Police identify the victim, 48-year-old Joe Canazaro. He owned Finn McCool's Tavern in Ambler

Police believe the people responsible for the death of a Bucks County business owner on Friday did not force their way inside his home.

On Friday, Joe Canazaro, 48, was killed inside his Hilltown Township home on Swartley Road. Shortly after 10 a.m., two armed, masked men broke into the house, according to investigators. Police say they tied up Canazaro's girlfriend and 12-year-old son in the basement of the home, killed Canazaro and then took off in his truck with bank books and weapons. Canazaro's girlfriend and son were able to get free and run to a neighbor's house for help. Canazaro's other son was away at school when the break-in happened.

Around 3:30, Friday afternoon, police found Canazaro's black Lincoln pickup truck at a Friendly's restaurant on West Broad Street in Quakertown. They towed it away and searched a nearby dumpster.

"The residence here was targeted," said Hilltown Township Police Chief Chris Engelhart. "This is not a random act."

Police believe the motive was robbery. They also believe that the two suspects, who are still at large, got inside Canazaro's home by entering a first floor window.

"We don't believe there was forced entry at this point but we're looking at what we believe to be the point of entry to confirm that," said Hilltown Township Police Chief Chris Engelhart.

Chief Engelhart also told NBC10 that an autopsy was performed on Canazaro but investigators aren't ready to reveal how he died to the public.

Canazaro was the co-owner of Finn McCool's Tavern in Ambler, according to NewtownPatch.com.

In May, a wall collapsed at Finn McCool's Tavern. The pub's been shut down since, but the day before Canazaro's murder, they posted on their Facebook page that they were now hiring for all positions. Now the update says:

People are posting condolences on the page now.

Police are still collecting evidence from Canazaro's truck. They continue to investigate.

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