New Orleans, LA — A store clerk in New Orleans East defended himself and others during a harrowing armed robbery at Sam’s Meat Market on Tuesday night, leaving one suspect dead and another in police custody. Authorities say the incident occurred just before 8 p.m. at the store on the South I-10 Service Road.
Surveillance footage reveals the chaotic scene as two masked individuals, both armed, stormed the store, demanding money and brandishing weapons. One suspect aimed a firearm with an extended magazine at the clerk while the other emptied cash registers and stole merchandise.
“They came in yelling, ‘Money, money, money!’ That’s all they cared about,” store manager Diaa Hamed said. “It was like they didn’t care who they hurt.”
The tense moment escalated when the robbers turned their backs. Seizing the opportunity, the clerk drew his own firearm from near the register and opened fire. The juvenile suspect, later identified as 16-year-old Cecil Batiz, was struck multiple times and collapsed.
Security footage shows the clerk returning moments later to fire additional shots at the injured suspect, who was still moving near his gun.
The second suspect, 18-year-old Teony Juarez, was also shot but managed to flee. Police later apprehended Juarez, who now faces four felony charges, including armed robbery and aggravated assault with a firearm.
Despite the tragic outcome, Hamed defended his employee’s actions. “We all carry guns, but we hope never to use them. In this situation, we had no choice. Our lives were on the line.”
The store clerk has not been charged as of yet,,, the follow-up shot may be a problem for our defender, and authorities are continuing their investigation.
Regular customer Cerria Burton summed up the community’s sentiment: “It’s sad, but they came to harm people, and they faced the consequences.”
While the employees were unharmed, the incident has left them shaken. “We have families, kids. You never want this to happen, but you have to protect yourself,” Hamed said.
This event reminds us of the dangers faced by business owners and workers in high-risk areas, reinforcing the importance of self-defense rights. As the investigation unfolds, the community is left grappling with a mix of relief and sorrow over the deadly encounter.
Let us know in the comments: Was the follow-up shot necessary, and if so, what circumstance would call for it?
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The clerk shot to neutralize the threat. As the perp was still moving in the vicinity of his gun the clerk was correct to place follow up shots in the perp, end of story.
Adios mofo. Good riddance.
shoot till the threat stops………breathing!
Our hero should receive tax free status for life, a new gun, 10,000 rounds of ammo and the keys to the city from a grateful public.
Saved tax slaves millions in incarceration, legal, medical and food costs. Saved judges the embarrassment of re-releasing the offender to rob and kill your family.
The wounded perp should have been shot again where he fell. FU#K CRIMINALS!!!!!!
F*ck around, find out!
I Can just hear his mama screaming….” My baby was a good boy! He never did nuffin wrong! Why dey killed him!”
This just underscores “Play stupid games…..Win stupid prizes” ! The thug got exactly what he deserved. The one who got away should have gotten the same.
Regardless of whether or not he was still a threat to anyone after being shot, he still came in there with the FULL intention of shooting someone and possibly killing them, if he didn’t get what he wanted! It’s not like he just saw an opportunity to shoplift something and took a chance, and got caught at it. He had several chances to avoid the outcome, like staying out of that store, not going in there with a loaded gun and the intention to rob the place, etc. But he used up all of his chances to keep himself safe… Read more »
One short of a perfect ending. Maybe next time he will get all of them and leave no survivors as it should be.
When an individual enters a store with a weapon drawn, THERE ARE NO JUVINILES IN THIS INSTANCE! The MSM MUST STOP THE LYING!!!
15-20 yrs ago, Massad Ayoob wrote of an incident at a jewelry store robbery in LA. The owner, having been robbed before had placed multiple firearms in various locations for quick access. Multiple (4 I think) robbers, at least one with a shotgun, bypassed the double buzz thru door system. As things went down one of the perps was shot and on the floor. The owner handed a .44 Mag to the nearest employee and said, “If he moves, shoot him”, and then went about business of suppressing the other perps. The perp on the floor twitched and the kid… Read more »