Thug murders store clerk in Meriden who handed over the cash

Very sad for the family. I’m a bit disturbed the story has almost completely been scrubbed from the Hartford Courant’s home page less than 19 hours after the murder.

Although not official, family and friends have let the media know the store’s owner, Ibrahim Ghazal, was murdered by a white man wearing a black T-shirt, tan shorts, black sneakers or boots, and fancy black baseball hat with a straight rim. It’s reported that Ghazal was well known in the community. Say a prayer or two for his family and friends.

From My Record Journal.

Resident Brian Glidden, who lives across the street from the gas station, said he goes in three to four times per week. Everyone in the store was consistently friendly to their customers, he said.

“One time I forgot my wallet and he said ‘I know who you are. You can pay me back tomorrow,’” Glidden said. “I’m astounded this happened. I know this isn’t the best of neighborhoods but it certainly isn’t the worst.”

Johnson said the family was just celebrating after Ghazal’s son got married last month in Jordan. Between that and the store projects, life was looking bright for the family until the robbery.

Keep in mind that eyewitness reports can be totally wrong, but this statement stood out to me.

A witness who was inside the store at the time of the shooting told police a man entered the store with a gun and demanded money. The witness said that once the man got the money, he shot the clerk in the chest and left.

Meriden Patch has a similar statement.

An unidentified witness who was inside the store at the time of the robbery, told police that once the man received an undisclosed amount of money he shot the clerk in the chest and then ran out of the store.

And My Record Journal.

A witness inside the store during the robbery told police a man entered the store carrying a handgun, [Detective Lt. Mark] Walerysiak said. The man demanded money from the clerk and, once he received the money, shot the clerk in the chest as he ran out of the building, Walerysiak said.

Get this into your head and think about it. Luck may not be on your side even if you give into the demands of thugs. Ghazal made the decision himself to follow the advice of many, and give this voilent piece of garbage what he wanted. Ghazal played the odds – usually in his favor – hoping the guy would just leave after taking the money.

Statistics may prove most thugs who point a gun at you won’t pull the trigger, but this case – and many like it – shows us it is not always true.

May he rest in peace, his family be cared for, and this thug suffer for a long time.