A Tennessee clerk showed no emotion after a jury found him guilty of second-degree murder in the shooting death of 17-year-old Dorian Harris.
Anwar Ghazali faces up to 60 years in prison for killing Dorian who stole a $2 beer from his Top Shop convenient store.
Ghazali’s defense said he never intended to kill Dorian. Instead, his lawyer alleges he fired off shots in the air as a warning. However, Dorian was struck in his femoral artery, which caused him to bleed out. The teen’s body was reportedly found later at a nearby abandoned home.
The 29-year-old store clerk didn’t take the stand, however, his criminal defense attorney, Black Ballin, noted he was 77 feet away from Dorian when he chased after him, a long enough distance that proved he didn’t intend to kill the teen.
“That’s like Steph Curry standing on the other side of the court, and knowing that he’ll make a shot at a 94-foot distance. Even Steph Curry can’t guarantee that,” Ballin said.
The prosecution, however, didn’t care how far away Ghazali was and built their case based upon the surveillance video from the night in question. Prosecutors also stated that after the shooting, he didn’t call local law enforcement and calmly walked back into the north Memphis convenience store to ring up more customers.
“The defendant took it upon himself to be the judge, the jury and the executioner over a $2 [drink]. That’s why we’re here,” said Lora Fowler said during closing arguments. “Why are you using deadly force to defend a [drink]?”
The convenience store was reportedly closed for two weeks following the shooting as protests erupted throughout the city days after Dorian’s murder
Ghazali will return to court on September 23rd and receive his sentencing.
