NJ Convenience Store Clerk Fatally Shot During Robbery

A robbery of a deli in Garfield, New Jersey turned deadly when the manager of the store was shot and killed yesterday afternoon. 30-year-old Ahmed Alsurahki was working alone at his family-run store, Billy's Deli, when it was robbed around 3:30 p.m. Police say that the store has been robbed several times in recent years. The Alsurahkis took over the reins of the establishment after the previous owner was wounded in a shooting in 2005. A neighbor told ABC-7, "This isn't the first time. This store is a very easy target. People been shot in that store couple times." Ahmed Alsurahki had just taken over running Billy's Deli and was engaged to be married next month. There is no word yet on witnesses or suspects.

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By Billy Parker in News on January 25, 2009 9:19 AM

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Compare and contrast:

Manager says clerk at Belmont Beverage believed he would be shot during robbery. By Evan Goodenow

After a suspected robber shot his co-worker on Wednesday, a Belmont Beverage liquor store clerk didn’t wait to see if he’d be next.

The clerk fatally shot the suspected robber – whom Fort Wayne Police have identified as Donald N. Jones – in self-defense, according to Gary Gardner, Belmont operations manager. Gardner said Thursday that store surveillance video shows Jones enter the store, walk around the counter and shoot a clerk in the leg before robbing two cash registers.

“That’s what was so stunning to us,” said Gardner. “(Usually) all they want is the money and they leave, but not in this instance.”

The armed clerk was behind the counter when the man entered and was on the east side. After taking the money, Gardner said the masked man moved toward the front door, which is on the west side of the store.

As Jones was leaving, “that’s when the bullets started flying,” Gardner said.

Gardner said the clerk opened fire with the pistol he has a permit to carry because he believed he was about to be shot, given the robber’s actions and demeanor.