Suspect in fatal Durham robbery faces judge
DURHAM (WTVD) -- The suspect facing murder charges in connection with an an armed robbery that killed a Durham convenience store employee on July 4th, is being held in jail without bond.
The Durham Police Department said 48-year-old Amer Mahmood died from at least two gunshot wounds after handing over money from the cash register at the Joy Food Mart on North Roxboro Street.
Officers arriving at the scene around 12:45 a.m. said they heard shots fired and met an armed suspect leaving the store. He was ordered to put down his gun, but when police say he pointed it at them, they opened fire.
Dmarlo Johnson, 26, was taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. He was later taken to the Durham County Jail.
During his court appearance Monday, Johnson who was in a wheelchair, was seen blowing a kiss to his family. The Durham DA asked for no bond, stating Johnson has a prior criminal record that includes a pending DWI case.
"Next court appearance July 27, no bond ... your (court-appointed) lawyer will be in touch," District Court Judge James Hill said.
Meanwhile, those who knew the victim are speaking out.
"This is not only a loss of Amer," said Moby Chaudhary, the owner of the Joy Mart. "This is a loss for the community. This should be a wakeup call. When these things happen, businesses go away, people don't want to live here. This hurts us but it also hurts the community."
"This one act by this person has hurt our neighborhood, our city," he added.
Late Monday afternoon, the officers involved in the incident were identified as: Officer Cornell Richards, Officer Jonathan Fullam, and Officer Joshua Conser.
Officer Richards joined the DPD in May 2007. Officer Fullam joined the DPD in January 2012, and Officer Conser joined the DPD in January 2014.
All three officers are currently on administrative leave with pay, which is standard procedure in officer-involved shootings.
Meanwhile, the victim's family has set up a Go Fund Me page to help pay for funeral expenses. One of Mahmood's loved ones told ABC11 that Mahmood's wife and children live in Arizona, and have no means to travel. They also hope to send Mahmood's body back to his home country of Pakistan.
