The suspect in a recent homicide investigation was spotted in south Charlotte Tuesday evening and taken into custody after a short pursuit, according to police sources.
Sources say the person suspected of killing convenience store clerk Khaled Mohamad Elmerkabaoui was spotted in a vehicle near Carmel Road before 9 p.m. Officers pursued the vehicle, the sources said, until the suspect jumped and ran away on foot.
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Just after 9 p.m., police had a perimeter set up in the area of nearby Quail Hollow Road and Quail Forest Drive. A short time later, sources said, the suspect was taken into custody.
The suspect’s name and charges have not been released.
The fatal shooting happened on Saturday. Police say Elmerkabaoui was working alone at the 7-Eleven store located at 735 Westinghouse Blvd, when he was killed “in cold-blood” in what appears to be a robbery attempt.
“The suspect walked in – from all indications it was a robbery attempt. The clerk offered no resistance whatsoever to the suspect and the suspect did shoot and kill the clerk He then fled the store,” said Captain Chris Dozier. “We’re extremely upset over the fact that a situation like is extremely rare. You have a clerk that offers no resistance, offers no resistance whatsoever and is a victim of a homicide.”
Detectives say a customer who arrived at the store on Westinghouse Boulevard shortly after 3 a.m. Saturday found El-Merkabaoui’s body.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family and friends at this difficult time.