Tariq Hussain, a 52-year-old store owner, was tragically shot and killed on October 14, 2007, inside Bobby's Grocery in Raleigh, North Carolina. The incident occurred during a robbery attempt, as Hussain, who was behind the counter, attempted to defend himself with his own gun. Surveillance footage captured the harrowing moments when a masked assailant entered the store, aimed his gun at Hussain, and fired twice, causing fatal injuries to Hussain's upper chest and lower neck.
The assailant then took money from the cash register and fled the scene.
The investigation into Hussain's death led to the arrest of Samuel James Cooper, a 33-year-old man who was charged with first-degree murder in connection with the case. Cooper was also linked to four other shooting deaths in and near Raleigh during a 17-month period between 2006 and 2007. These victims included Ossama Haj-Hussain, 43, LeRoy Jernigan, 41, Timothy Barnwell, 34, and Ricky High, 48. Cooper's arrest in November 2007 for a bank robbery charge ultimately connected him to these murders through a gun he dropped while fleeing.
During the trial, prosecutors presented evidence that Cooper's motives in four of the shootings were robbery, while High was an unintended target in an argument between Cooper and two suspected gang members. Cooper's defense attorneys argued that his violent upbringing and years of physical abuse at his father's hands had caused him to develop a diminished capacity, affecting his ability to think clearly and act impulsively in moments of stress.
The trial for Cooper's case began in September 2009, with prosecutors providing extensive evidence, including surveillance footage and testimonies from witnesses. Despite Cooper's initial denials of the charges, the evidence presented in court painted a clear picture of his involvement in the murders. The trial concluded with Cooper being found guilty of multiple counts of first-degree murder, bringing some measure of justice to the families of the victims.
