Taz's Supermarket One owner will only be sentenced for voluntary manslaughter conviction

RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) -- A Raleigh store owner has been convicted of killing a customer in April 2023.

On Tuesday, December 15, Judge Keith Gregory instructed the nine men and three women to find Taiseer "Taz" Zarka guilty of second-degree murder, voluntary manslaughter, or a not-guilty verdict. Shortly after, the jury asked to again review the video from inside the store that captured the altercation and stabbing and cell phone video captured by witnesses.

The jury found 'Taz' guilty of voluntary manslaughter Wednesday morning after deliberating for less than six hours.

The judge declared a mistrial late Wednesday on the aggravated assault factor. The aggravated assault factor will no longer be considered during sentencing.

This means Zarka will be sentenced only on the voluntary manslaughter conviction.

Mark Garrity Jr's parents released this statement about the verdict:
"We are disappointed by the verdict and WILL continue to fight for our son, Mark, and so many others that didn't get their voice heard. Finally, after 19 long months of freedom for Taz, we are thankful he is locked up." - Amy & Mark Garrity

Taiseer "Taz" Zarka was charged after stabbing customer Mark Garrity Jr several times inside the store during an altercation. Zarka and his defense attorney said it was in self-defense after Garrity threatened to shoot him (Zarka). Zarka had accused Garrity of stealing a bottle of Gatorade and the altercation turned violent.

During the weeklong trial, Zarka testified in his own defense.

SEE ALSO | Parents await trial of store owner charged with killing their son: 'It's draining'

Zarka's defense team argued during the trial that his action was done in self-defense when the man he's accused of killing, Mark Garrity Jr., threatened to shoot him.

"It's traumatic to see the death of a human being," said Zarka's attorney Karl Knudsen. He went on to refer to Garrity as a "troubled young man".