Tarrant County Sheriff’s Office says an armed man entered a Big County Mart in the Fort Worth area, robbed the store, and killed the store clerk during the robbery before stealing his minivan. According to reports, this incident occurred in the 4500 block of East FM 187, which is just south of the city of Fort Worth. 

The robbery and murder took place early in the morning. At roughly 7 AM, deputies arrived to the scene and found the store clerk dead from an apparent gunshot wound, and was later identified as a man named Anwar Qasim Ali, 62 years of age. Currently, authorities believe the suspect got away with Ali’s dark gray Toyota Sienna.

As of now, authorities are only looking for a single suspect. Based on video surveillance footage, the suspect is described as having a plus-size build. The last time he was seen, he was wearing a white baseball cap with a red bill, a blue-colored zip-up hoodie, gray pants, and a pair of black shoes. He was also seen wearing a surgical-type mask and one glove.

Because this individual is considered armed and highly dangerous, authorities are urging citizens not to approach him if he is seen out in public. If you do happen to come across this person, you are urged to call Tarrant County authorities at 817-884-1213.

Potential Penalties of Robbery and Auto Theft

Fort Worth is considered home to countless individuals and families, and there is no room in our community for violent acts like this. If this individual is guilty of the crimes that have been committed, justice must be served before anyone else is harmed. There is an assortment of different charges that this individual may be convicted of if they are brought into custody by police. For starters, armed robbery is aggravated robbery. Aggravated robbery takes place when an individual takes another person’s property against their will while using physical force or threatening to use physical force. Someone can be charged with aggravated robbery (instead of robbery) if they knowingly or recklessly cause serious injury to another person, threatens bodily injury, or uses a deadly weapon during the robbery.

Because this man allegedly used a gun during this robbery, he could face a first-degree felony conviction, resulting in a prison sentence that ranges from five years to life imprisonment, alongside a fine of up to $10,000.

Because the individual stole the store clerk’s minivan after the robbery took place, they may be susceptible to auto theft charges. Auto theft is the act of unlawfully taking possession of another person’s vehicle. It is considered unlawful is the owner did not consent, or if the offender took the vehicle knowing it was a stolen vehicle.

The least severe penalty the court can give for auto theft is a class C misdemeanor. However, the penalty typically greatly varies depending on the offenders’ criminal history, the value of the stolen property, and whether or not a weapon was used during the carjacking. Also, if anyone was injured or killed during the act, this will undoubtedly warrant a more severe penalty. Auto theft can be classified as a first-degree felony, which is punishable by life imprisonment and/or a fine not to exceed $10,000.

Find A Tarrant County Defense Attorney for Aggravated Robbery Charges | Law Offices of Richard C. McConathy

Tarrant County is supposed to be a place of peace, and not of crime. When individuals commit crimes of any kind, they are hurting our county’s integrity, economy, and overall safety. Offenses such as armed robbery, murder, and auto theft cause other residents of Tarrant County to fear for their safety, causing unnecessary panic throughout communities that would have otherwise been at peace. For these reasons and more, it is important that Tarrant County authorities find this suspect as soon as possible to ensure this does not take place even once more.

Though we condemn the actions of the previously mentioned suspect, the Law Offices of Richard C. McConathy also acknowledge the fact that the citizens of our county need access to criminal defense lawyers. False accusations happen more often than you think, and there are many scenarios in which a law-abiding citizen may need a defense lawyer to help them retain their freedom. If you’re in need of legal assistance, our team is ready to work with you. Call us today at (817) 422-5350. You can also click here to contact us online.