Slain Store Clerk Was Chasing Away Teens

Edgecombe County sheriff's investigators have three people in custody in connection with the fatal shooting of a convenience store clerk, and they think robbery was the motive in the crime.

Posted 11:04 a.m. Nov 16, 2007 — Updated 10:43 p.m. Nov 16, 2007

ROCKY MOUNT, N.C. — An Edgecombe County store clerk shot to death Thursday evening was apparently trying to chase off the three people now in custody in connection with the crime.

Sheriff James Knight said Friday it appeared that Ahmad Mahmoed Nimer, 61, was coming from a back room of the Wings n' Things convenience store on N.C. Highway 33 when he caught several people trying to steal from the store's register.

"When they saw him, or what have you, we believe shots were exchanged at that time," Knight said.

Investigators believe Nimer pulled his gun to try to stop them before he was shot, and it appeared Nimer chased the teens out the front door and collapsed, Knight said.

Bullet holes were found in the wall, a gun on the ground, and one of the suspects, William Earl Allen Jr., appeared to have been shot in the shoulder, the sheriff said.

Authorities said they believe the motive for the robbery was to get money to buy drugs.

A customer found Nimer lying outside the store shortly before 7:30 p.m. and called 911, authorities said. Emergency crews took Nimer to Heritage Hospital, where he died.

William Allen, 18, of Tarboro, is also charged with possession of cocaine and possession of a firearm. He was in the Edgecombe County Jail Friday being held without bond for the murder charge.

His brother, Kendrick Donta Everett, 16, also of Tarboro, faces two counts of breaking and entering into the same store on a different occasion. He was in jail Friday under a $100,000 bond

Donnyell Lorenzo Allen, 18, of Tarboro, who is not related to the two, is charged with possession of a stolen firearm, a .22 caliber pistol that authorities believe is the murder weapon.

Further charges are pending, and authorities are looking at a fourth suspect.

Nimir had trouble with the suspects in the past, Knight said. They frequented the store and allegedly caused problems before Thursday's shooting.

Wings n' Things previously operated under the name Exum's Grocery Store.

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