DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. — A store clerk was charged with murder after police said he shot and killed a man inside of a DeKalb County gas station early Monday morning.
DeKalb police responded to the scene at a 24-hour Texaco located in the 5200 block of Memorial Drive in Stone Mountain around 1:45 a.m. after the store clerk reported someone was shot.
When officials arrived, they found a man's body lying on the floor.
The store's overnight employee was then detained for questioning. Hours later, authorities said they charged Amir Javed, 26, with malice murder.
Police said Javed and the victim got into an altercation before gunfire erupted. Officials believe theft may have been involved and that Javed ended up shooting the man, who was unarmed.
Police said the victim is 50-year-old John Lamar.
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Police took surveillance video from this store. They won't release it, saying it's part of their investigation. But after watching it, they decided to move forward with charges.
Channel 2's Sophia Choi spoke with the owner through the store's bullet proof glass. He had yet to speak with the employee, but he said this shooting took him by surprise, because he said it is a safe area, with only one armed robbery in the last five years.
He admitted some employees do arm themselves, just in case.
One customer, who wanted to remain anonymous, questioned why the clerk shot, when the store has protection.
"I don't understand how something like that can happen when the cashier is behind a bullet proof window," one customer said.
Some in the community are now calling for a boycott of the gas station, saying the clerk went too far.