Omar Maslat, a 57-year-old convenience store cashier, was tragically killed on April 2, 2014, in Chicago, IL. The incident occurred during a dispute over merchandise outside the store where Maslat worked. Joey Jones, a 31-year-old man, was charged with first-degree murder for the fatal shooting of Maslat. According to police reports, Jones shot Maslat in the chest when Maslat attempted to block his path as he tried to leave the store.
Maslat was taken to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, where he was pronounced dead shortly after 7 a.m.
The suspect, Joey Jones, was also charged with attempted murder in a separate incident that occurred less than four hours after the shooting of Maslat. Jones allegedly shot 50-year-old Brion Payne, a father of 10, in the head while Payne was trying to get coffee at a nearby Dunkin Donuts in Uptown, Chicago. Payne was taken to Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center, where he was in serious condition. Police arrested Jones after finding his alleged getaway car, a Ford Crown Victoria, near his home. Jones was questioned for 12 hours before being charged in both shootings.
Jones was ordered held without bond in court. The motive behind the second shooting of Payne remains unclear. The tragic events of that day left the community in shock and mourning for the loss of Omar Maslat and the severe injury of Brion Payne.
