Memphis, Tennessee



From the Memphis Commercial Appeal of March 29, 2004:

Fatal heist was 'like a bad dream'



Ahmed Ismail said Sunday he was still trying to shake off a bad dream that began when a man walked into his tobacco store and put a gun in his face.



Within seconds of being confronted about 9:30 p.m. Saturday, Ismail fired his own pistol from behind the counter of Cigarettes for Cheap at 1260 Getwell, killing the would-be robber.



Police identified the man as Alpochino Antonio Jackson, 20, who was rushed to the Regional Medical Center at Memphis. He was pronounced dead just before 10 p.m. Saturday.



The gunman, a bandanna across his face, flung open the door, gun in hand, and started screaming at Ismail for the store receipts.



"It was all like a bad dream. I can't believe it," Ismail said. "I knew he was coming to kill me . . . I had to do something," Ismail said.



After Ismail shot him, the man left his pistol and shoes behind, and collapsed in the parking lot, Ahmed said.



"I'm not proud of what happened," Ahmed said. "But I had no other choice. . . I knew he was going to shoot me."

...



Police said Sunday they were looking for a second man to question, but did not know yet if Jackson had an accomplice.



Jackson's gun and Ismail's gun were recovered by police, homicide Lt. Joe Scott said Sunday.



The investigation into what happened continues, Scott said, but nothing has emerged to cast doubt on Ismail's account.



Police reports list at least one other witness in the store.



The results of the investigation will be turned over to the District Attorney General's Office, which will decide whether criminal charges are filed against Ismail.