A Birmingham business owner gunned down in apparent robbery attempt is being remembered as an incredible soul with a big heart.

Snir Lalum, an Israeli citizen affectionately known by his friends in the U.S. as Sonny, was shot to death in the early morning hours of Aug. 24. Lalum, co-owner of Insta-Movers, was opening the business for the day when investigators believe he was targeted for robbery and followed to the warehouse from a nearby convenience store.

The slaying of the Vestavia Hills man has been a blow to those who knew him best.

“This tragedy is so shocking,’’ said Brianna Lee, who worked for Lalum and became a close friend.

“If you knew him, he was a happy-go-lucky character who would dance around the office and sing,’’ Lee said. “He took me under his wing, and I became family.”

A GoFundMe has been started to help Lalum’s wife, Karin, and his 6-year-old son, Yarin.

“Snir Lalum, a loving husband, and a doting father, was a cherished friend to many,’’ wrote friend Assaf Hazan on the fundraising site. “His infectious laughter, kind heart, and unwavering support touched the lives of all those around him.”

South Precinct officers were dispatched at 5:15 a.m. Thursday to Insta-Movers at 115 Walter Davis Drive.

When they arrived, they found Lalum suffering from a gunshot wound inside a warehouse bay. They attempted life-saving measures on him until Birmingham Fire and Rescue Service arrived to take him to UAB Hospital.

Lalum was pronounced dead at the hospital at 5:50 a.m.

Police have not yet announced any arrests.

Those who knew Lalum said he was loved by many.

“We’ve lost an incredible soul with a big heart and an even bigger smile,’’ one friend wrote on Facebook.

Another friend described Lalum as a man full of goodness and giving.

“In a world of sarcasm, you were the truth,’’ he wrote. “You are the one who taught us all how to be better.”

Lalum each morning would take the workers up to the gas station to buy them drinks and snacks before the long workday started.

It was in that routine moment, police believe, that Lalum became a target.

Lee said Lalum was generous beyond belief.

“I know everybody says this after somebody passes but if you’re walking around without a shirt on, he would give you his,’’ she said. “He’d done that with some of our workers before.”

“I you needed money, or just wanted money, he gave it to you,’’ Lee said. “He wanted you to succeed as much as he wanted to succeed.”

“I thanked God for him,’’ she said. “My life completely changed for the better since he came into my life.”

Friends said Lalum doted on his young son.

“His son was his world,’’ Lee said. “His wife would bring Yarin to the office when he had a good day at school and he would take him on a ride in a ‘big truck’ for doing good in school.”

“Snir’s wife, Karin, now faces the daunting task of relocating while dealing with the immense loss of her partner and the uncertainty of the future,’’ Hazan wrote in the GoFundMe. “As if coping with the grief wasn’t enough, she must provide the best care for their precious 6-year-old son, who requires special attention and lots of resources.”

“With heavy hearts, we rally together to alleviate some of the burdens this grieving family now carries,’’ he wrote. “The funds raised will support the relocation costs, ensuring a stable environment for Snir’s wife and son as they navigate this challenging chapter of their lives.”

“Additionally, the funds will contribute to specialized care and therapy for their child, providing him with the tools necessary for his growth and development,’’ he wrote.

Donations to the GoFundMe can be made here.

The business reopened Monday for the first time since last week’s deadly shooting.

“Today is difficult but we all know what Sonny would want and that is for us to move on,’’ Lee said. “He had a passion about working and for the moving industry so we all keep reminding each other with lots of tears and hugs that this is what he would want us to do – continue.”

Anyone with information on the crime is asked to call homicide detectives at 205-254-1764 or Crime Stoppers at 205-254-7777.