A black teen ran out with a $2 beer. Then a Tennessee store clerk followed him and shot him dead

MSN / CNN ^ | 8-17-19 | Madeline Holcombe and Eric Levenson, CNN

[Tired of Taxes]

A jury found a grocery clerk guilty of killing a 17-year-old boy who ran out of the store with a beer he didn't pay for in Memphis, Tennessee, in a case that had sparked protests, authorities said.

Anwar Ghazali was convicted of second-degree murder after a four-day trial, Shelby County District Attorney General Amy Weirich said Friday.

"This defendant took it upon himself to be the judge and jury and the executioner over a $2 beer," prosecutor Lora Fowler said, according to CNN affiliate WMC.

The shooting happened in March 2018, after Dorian Harris walked out of the Top Stop Shop with a beer without paying, Weirich said.

Security video of the incident played in court shows that Ghazali, while behind the counter dealing with another customer, pulled out a handgun and pointed it at Harris. He then ran outside to follow the teen and fired several times.

Afterward, he returned to the store and told a witness, "I think I shot him." He did not call the police, and neither did any other customer inside the store, WMC reported.

Harris was shot at least three times and was left to bleed out, Fowler said. His body was found two days later in a yard near the store with gunshots in the back of his thigh, Weirich said.

Ghazali's defense attorney, Blake Ballin, told CNN in an email that Ghazali maintains he acted recklessly that night but his intention was never to harm Harris.

He said they were pleased that the jury rejected the prosecution's argument that this was a calculated and premeditated murder motivated by the theft of a beer. That would have come with a potential life sentence.

Ghazali is expected to be sentenced on September 23.

[Tired of Taxes]

All stores deal with thieves. And, sure, some people get away with stealing again and again.

But, to chase after a thief, shoot him, and not even call 911? That’s downright coldhearted.

[gundog]

I got halfway through your second sentence, and figured it was you. Odd.

[kiryandil]

Unless the perp poses a threat of great bodily harm to the shooter or others, shooting them in the back as they’re fleeing the scene is never legally justified-whether it be over a 2 dollar beer or a Rolex watch.

In the post you responded to, I pointed out what would happen if you went into prosecutor Lora Fowler's house, stole a $2 beer and just left without threatening anyone or anything.

Fowler would read your mind and "see" that you posed a threat of great bodily harm, and put you in prison for felony home invasion.

You'd get sexed in the back repeatedly.

Think I'd rather get shot, thank you very much.

[Oatka]

A black teen ran out with a $2 beer.

Why has the race of the thief been inserted into the headline?

Oh yeah, can't inflame the public, as per The Agenda.

[867V309]

Did anyone benefit? Yes, as a matter of fact, the next guy considering theft might think twice about it, and we will have a more civil society. Equivocate if you like about shades of gray, or accept that there is black and white. I'm with the shooter on this.

it is absolutely essential for the ruling elite that we serfs are afraid to protect our lives, our loved ones and our property.          that is a basic form of control, and another reason they want our guns.

[Revel]

I agree that the theft was no excuse for murder.
I would also like to know if they found the beer.

[dp0622]

Yeah I don’t give a #### that he got shot and died in a lot alone in his final hours.

It’s ENOUGH.

WE KNOW this wasn’t going to be his last or worst crime.

Your situation at the time is not my business but I am glad you felt you did the right thing. That’s all that matters in the end.

As for this kid, I don’t care at all that he’s mulch now.

How much is enough?

[Farcesensitive]

Not calling for an ambulance is inexcusable but whatever you think about using deadly force to defend property on a moral basis it shouldn’t be illegal.

If the theft is big enough it is absolutely justified, that’s why they used to hang horse-thieves.

“You take my house when you do take the prop
That doth sustain my house. You take my life
When you do take the means whereby I live.”

-William Shakespeare.

[Hieronymus]

I think it is what happens when one crosses backwoods humor with a Mr. K grade education, and then throws in personality development.

The dry humor is beyond some, in the grasp of others, and leaves tell-tale finger prints that are identifiable.

A few of your posts have also struck me the same way.

[mass55th]

"Anwar Ghazali..."

Originally from Yemen and is now a U.S. citizen. A muzzie?

[Hieronymus]

Where did Swain finish? I read an article about her here, which was the only reason I asked.

[Ruy Dias de Bivar]

I am reminded of something similar about forty five years ago when missionaries in Haiti, saw a man steal from a stall.
The thief did not get more than a few yards before the TON TON MACOUTES were on him and beat him to a pulp.

The missionaries were horrified when the shop keeper said it had to be done. If not, everyone would come in and steal everything they had.

The US has not reached that low yet, I hope.

[Hieronymus]

The US has not reached that low yet, I hope.

---

If you think Memphis is typical of the U.S., you are in a state of denial.

[Vigilanteman]

If we only had Sharia Law, they would’ve settled for amputating the thief’s right hand and left foot. < / sarcasm>

[libh8er]

Is it possible the black teen was overwhelmed with guilt and committed suicide by shooting himself in the back of his head ?

[Manly Warrior]

Glad you didn’t murder anyone, that’d be a crime and immoral to boot.... There is a huge difference between murder and justified killing...

Obviously this case was not one of them.

[BillyCuccio]

I don’t even shoot bears making a mess in my restaurant’s dumpster.

[null and void]

Anwar should have settled for chopping off the kafir’s hand.

[jocon307]

Yeah, I gotta say, that’s an extreme over reaction.