1 killed, 1 injured in Durham convenience store robbery

A man identified as Nafez Jalal, 57, of Durham, was found dead from an apparent gunshot wound at the Fast Food Mart at 2106 Broad Street, officials said. Hassan Jolale, a 48-year-old Durham man, sustained a gunshot wound was taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

The owner of the store, Hakeem Saleh, said he found out about the shooting around 3 a.m. and came to the store. Both of the employees shot, Saleh said, have family in the area.

"They have wife, they have kids," Saleh said. "Both make a living for their family. We always told them if somebody get robbed, to give money and not to be at risk."

Saleh said before leaving the store, the robber fired another shot at Jolale, but missed.

"When he shot (Jolale) the bullet came between his legs. It didn't hurt him, but the first one got him, got his leg," Saleh said. "He was lucky he didn't die from the second one."

The robber then left the store, but came back after realizing he had left fingerprints on the door. Saleh said he wiped down the door and then left again.

Jalal's death is part of Durham's most recent rash of crime. It follows another from late last year which prompted police to arrest 19 people they felt were responsible for most of the city's violent crime. Police Chief Larry Smith said though many people were arrested, crime persists.

"It's just frustrating at times to put everything you got into something and it doesn't seem to slow down," he said. "I am convinced there are a lot of people out there that know things."

Smith said he wants people to speak up, adding the criminals his department is dealing with are different than anything he has seen in his 28-year career.

"I am surprised by two things. How young they are and how willing they are to pick up a gun and start shooting," he said. "No matter who is around, and who is in harm's way."

No suspects in connection with Wednesday's shooting are in custody.

Anyone with information should call Crime Stoppers at 919-683-1200 or Investigator J.P. Mitchell at 919-560-4440.

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