Mecklenburg County's District Attorney will decide if a store clerk will face charges after he shot and killed a man who police said was trying to rob him Thursday night.
Police said the clerk was on duty at the Fast Mart on Tom Hunter Road when Javon Booker, 21, came in with a gun, pistol-whipped the clerk and tried to rob him.
"The guy jumped him here and he hit him two times and he's hurt here two time, he's cut," said the store owner, Lamia Hanna, on Friday.
Hanna said the clerk, who is her cousin, had no choice but to shoot.
"He was defending himself," Hanna said.
Hanna had been in that position herself six years ago.
In July of 2007, she was working in the store when a man came in and tried to rob her.
She shot and killed the would-be robber and said it all came back when she answered the alarm call to the shooting last night.
"When he comes with a gun, then you have to defend yourself," she said.
Police are investigating the shooting Thursday night and will turn their evidence over to the district attorney, who will decide on charges, but many in the community have already made up their minds.
"I congratulate them because people are getting tired of people taking their hard-earned money," said Steven Reid, who has lived in neighboring Hidden Valley for 35 years.
Reid said the community is tired of the violence that comes in from other parts of Charlotte, and that the store owners have been trying to get rid of the problems also.
In fact, no one at the store Friday was blaming the clerk for what happened.
"No I don't blame him. He did what he's supposed to do," said Earline Alexander, who also lives nearby.
Hanna said she is encouraged by the support and determined to stay.
"They see us. We work seven days a week. We've been here 11 years, and I'm not leaving," she said.
Family members of Booker gathered at his home near the Plaza Friday, but declined comment on the case.
Police said the clerk was on duty at the Fast Mart on Tom Hunter Road when Javon Booker, 21, came in with a gun, pistol-whipped the clerk and tried to rob him.
"The guy jumped him here and he hit him two times and he's hurt here two time, he's cut," said the store owner, Lamia Hanna, on Friday.
Hanna said the clerk, who is her cousin, had no choice but to shoot.
"He was defending himself," Hanna said.
Hanna had been in that position herself six years ago.
In July of 2007, she was working in the store when a man came in and tried to rob her.
She shot and killed the would-be robber and said it all came back when she answered the alarm call to the shooting last night.
"When he comes with a gun, then you have to defend yourself," she said.
Police are investigating the shooting Thursday night and will turn their evidence over to the district attorney, who will decide on charges, but many in the community have already made up their minds.
"I congratulate them because people are getting tired of people taking their hard-earned money," said Steven Reid, who has lived in neighboring Hidden Valley for 35 years.
Reid said the community is tired of the violence that comes in from other parts of Charlotte, and that the store owners have been trying to get rid of the problems also.
In fact, no one at the store Friday was blaming the clerk for what happened.
"No I don't blame him. He did what he's supposed to do," said Earline Alexander, who also lives nearby.
Hanna said she is encouraged by the support and determined to stay.
"They see us. We work seven days a week. We've been here 11 years, and I'm not leaving," she said.
Family members of Booker gathered at his home near the Plaza Friday, but declined comment on the case.
WSOC
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