CLEVELAND, OHIO -- A gas station clerk shot and killed a man who he says was trying to rob him Tuesday morning. The man later died from the gunshot.

The 22-year-old robbery suspect was shot at the Citgo station at East 156th and Lakeshore in Cleveland.

Store owner Sofien Saad says he keeps a loaded gun behind the counter for self-defense.

"Nobody knows the outcome when you have a gun in your face," said Saad. "Nobody knows what's going in the guys head. If he's going to shoot."

Saad's younger brother was working the cash register when police say an armed gang member tried to rob him.

"He had gun, pointed it at cashier, as well as the customers in the store," said Saad. "It was at that time my brother was able to take him out before he took any of the customers out."

The suspect ran bleeding out to the parking lot and dropped his gun. He then collapsed by the curb.

"We heard two pops from the gas station, and the gentleman came staggering out of the station," said Michael McCulloc, a construction worker who witnessed the event from across the street.

In recent months, the area has seen a lot of revitilization and residents describe the relationship between the African and Arab American communities as a good one.

"I would have done the same thing," said local resident Angel Roebuck. "That's sad that somebody died. You can't go around robbing people. That's their business, their livelihood."

Saad insists his brother acted in self defense. City councilman Mike Polensik agrees.

"You can't fault an owner or operator for defending himself," said Polensik. "We've had too many people killed in this city."

Saad says that living with the consequences will be hard enough for his brother.

"I'm worried about my brother, he's traumatized from this," said Saad. "He's the one who's got to go to sleep and dream over and over. So our focus is on him. Make sure he's alright."

Armed robber killed by store owner

Originally ran here as:
"Man Killed During Alleged Robbery Attempt"
News Net 5
May 14, 2002

CLEVELAND, OHIO -- A man is dead after allegedly attempting to rob a gas station on Cleveland's east side Tuesday morning. Many times, an innocent convenience store clerk gets gunned down, but NewsChannel5's Adam Shapiro reported that this time, the alleged robber paid the price.

Witnesses said that an unidentified robber burst into the Citgo gas station on East 156th Street with a gun and demanded money. The robber was apparently unaware that the cashier also had a gun.

"Nobody knows the outcome, nobody knows what's going to happen when they have a gun in their face," said Sofien Saad, the Citgo owner. "Nobody knows what's going on in the guy's head behind the trigger and what he's thinking and if he will shoot (him) in the head or not, so he took action before the robber could take action himself."

Saad's brother defended not only his life Tuesday morning, but the lives of customers who Saad said were also being threatened by the robber.

"I heard shots, so I don't know if he was shot while he was running or in the store," witness Linda St. Clair said. "It happened so fast."

Witnesses said that the robber ran out of the store after he was shot in the chest and collapsed on the sidewalk. He was pronounced dead at Huron Hospital.

"You can't blame any store owner for defending (himself) in light of the fact that so many of them have been killed in this city," City Councilman Mike Polensek said.

The store was robbed at gunpoint three weeks ago, and Saad said that incident and the murder of convenience store clerk Johnny Yayha were fresh on the minds of everyone who works at the store.

"Armed robbery doesn't pay," Saad said. "It's unfortunate, but in the end, there will be a fatality, and who's it going to be, you know? Don't rob; get a job."

The gas station reopened for business Tuesday afternoon. Saad's brother remains shaken up, NewsChannel5 reported.

A coroner is performing an autopsy, and officials are investigating.

Armed robber killed by store owner

Originally ran here as:
"Cleveland Store Clerks Armed For Protection"
News Net 5
May 15, 2002

Workers Say It's Matter Of Survival

CLEVELAND, OHIO -- A wave of violent crime sprees has hit northeast Ohio recently and now area business owners are on alert and prepared to fight back.

Store clerks are turning up the heat on safety. They are arming themselves with weapons while they work, NewsChannel5 reported.

On Tuesday, an attempted robbery turned deadly at a Citgo Station when a clerk shot the suspect on the other side of the counter.

Witnesses said that an unidentified robber burst into the gas station on East 156th Street with a gun and demanded money. The robber was apparently unaware that the cashier also had a gun.

"You can't blame any store owner for defending (himself) in light of the fact that so many of them have been killed in this city," City Councilman Mike Polensek said.

For some local convenience store clerks, it's now a matter of survival.

"When they had the barrel in my face, I just thought that's it for me," robbery victim Samer Abdelaziz said.

Police are still reviewing surveillance videotape from the store to pinpoint exactly what happened during the shooting.

NOTICE: In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, this material is distributed, without profit, for research or educational purposes. We do our best, as well, to give credit to the original news source who published these Guns Save Lives stories out of respect and appreciation for their willingness to spread the word that Guns Save Lives -- and when an original link is available, we ALWAYS send all our visitors to read the original article on the original site where it was posted. God Bless the Americans that publish these stories - for assisting Americans in hearing the truth about guns saving lives.