On October 27, 2016, 29-year-old Al Shami Esmail, a male store clerk of Middle Eastern descent, was tragically shot to death during a robbery at the Shop N Go convenience store in Zebulon, North Carolina. The incident occurred around 11 p.m. when two masked individuals entered the store, armed with guns, and proceeded to rob the clerk. During the course of the robbery, Esmail was shot and died at the scene.
Another employee, 51-year-old Ricky Lynch, was also shot and sustained serious injuries but survived.
The investigation led to the arrest of four individuals in connection with the robbery and murder. Darius Dontae McCalston, 28, and Omari Alexander Smith, 23, both from Raleigh, were charged with first-degree murder, robbery with a dangerous weapon, assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill inflicting serious injury, and felony conspiracy. Grecia Montes, 20, was charged as an accessory after the fact. Julien Allen, 19, who acted as the lookout and getaway driver, was also arrested and charged with first-degree murder, robbery with a dangerous weapon, assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill inflicting serious injury, and conspiracy to commit robbery with a dangerous weapon.
Surveillance footage from the store showed McCalston and Smith robbing the clerk and firing shots during the robbery. The suspects fled the scene in a dark-colored sedan. The community was deeply affected by the incident, with many expressing their shock and sadness over the loss of Esmail, who was described as a friendly and pleasant individual.
In 2018, Julien Allen was found guilty of murder and sentenced to life in prison without parole. He also received additional sentences for the assault and conspiracy charges. The trials for McCalston, Smith, and Montes were still pending at the time. The case highlighted the dangers faced by convenience store workers and the impact of violent crime on small communities.
