A Virginia smoke shop was the target of three robbers who thought the store would be an easy target. But they were in for a surprise as the store owner had bought firearms to protect the place. The store employees successfully protected the store and called the police as one of the criminals were wounded, but when the police showed up they arrested more than just the thieves. They also arrested the man who bravely defended the store, Hamzeh Abushariah.
“A Virginia store employee was jailed with no bond after shooting at three masked intruders who allegedly broke into the business, wounding one of them, WJLA-TV reported — and the owner of the Arlington Smoke Shop is outraged at authorities.
Hamzeh Abushariah, 33 — who was temporarily staying at the store and sleeping in a back room — got up and grabbed one of two guns that store owner Jowan Aqrawi purchased two weeks ago due to concerns over coronavirus crime spikes, WJLA reported.
“We bought protection for the store just in case, because on Facebook you see a lot of robberies, a lot of things going on,” Aqrawi explained to the station.
Abushariah opened the door to the sales floor and fired the gun, hitting one of the suspects — a juvenile, police told WJLA. He then retreated to the backroom before reentering the sales floor and firing the gun again as the suspects tried to flee the business, police added to the station.
The wounded juvenile is expected to survive, the station noted, adding that breaking and entering charges are anticipated for the trio of alleged intruders.”
But when they called the police they did not get the response they were expecting.
“Abushariah was charged with malicious wounding, reckless handling of a firearm and violating a protective order, according to a police statement obtained by local blog ARLNow. Arlington Police also told WJLA that the charge of violation of a protective order related to Abushariah reportedly being ordered not to have a firearm.
“It’s very sad for America today as American citizens practice their Second Amendment to protect the store and their lives,” Jowan Aqrawi, the store owner, said. “Do you know what the [responding] police officer told him [Abushariah]? ‘Why didn’t you run out the back door?'”
Aqrawi added that when he went to the jail to bond out Abushariah, the $25,000 bond was appealed by the prosecutor.
“This is very sad,” he said. “I was born in Arlington, I pay taxes. The gun is registered and everything is perfect. But I can’t believe as American citizens, we are being treated like this. And this gets the criminals out there [thinking] ‘We can go rob stuff, kill people and hurt people and guess what, people have to run out the back door’. This is mind-boggling.”
“ABC7 received a statement from Arlington Commonwealth’s Attorney Parisa Dehghani-Tafti that read as follows:
“I cannot ethically discuss an ongoing investigation because doing so would not only risk compromising our work but also unfairly impede on the rights of the accused and interfere with the investigation. Suffice it to say, there is evidence we are not at liberty to share that support the charges, the decision was not made lightly, and we ask the public not to rush to judgment on what is very much a live investigation.”
It may not be a black and white case here but still, the guy defended the store and then was basically punished for it. And what’s worse he is being held without bail. But I guess the right to bear arms in frowned upon in Virginia.
SO, THE ANARCHY BEGINS . And the communist prosecutor made it – NO BAIL – for the defender lol. Perhaps the prosecutor needs a few ounces of lead as well. That would help him decide on which side of the Constitution ,,,, he stands . Frankly , a lot of other legislators in Virginia could use some as well.
That’s what happens when libtards are in charge.
WELCOME TO TOTALITARIANISM!!!!
NEXT TIME
THINK BEFORE you vote!
As if it matters.
Such BS, but not surprising coming from the communist state of virginia. They should be ashamed of themselves. This guy had every right to defend his person and property from those invading his store. I hope he fights this because it’s just the democraps way of muscling the Citizens. They offer no protection and are not obligated to, as has been determined by the SCOTUS. YOU and you alone, are responsible for protecting yourself, your family and your property.
“When you have to shoot, SHOOT ! Don’t talk.” – Tuco.
That’s what happens when you show up at a rally to show off your dick.
It’s time to shoot politicians, but some sheeple still think they should baaaahaaaahaaaaa.
It’s Virginia, what else would you expect from that sh-t hole. Remember it’s right next to DC.
Virginia is clearly in violation of the store owner and employee’s Constitutional rights. They may have to take it to the U.S. Supreme Court to get justice, and then they can sue Virginia for false arrest and costs.
Maybe it would’ve been better if he admitted he was trying to rob the store before the other guys so he could get off !
And what happens if somebody from the group of thieves is waiting out back? Now what are you supposed to do, just lay down and die?
Police state tactics!
Release the guy defending the store! People have a right to defend themselves and their businesses. Arrest the perpetrators and BRING THEM TO JUSTICE so the people know they can’t get away with robbery in Virginia
That is what happens when communist-democrats are in charge. Get the heII rid of them!
The mentally ill governor of Virginia will stop at nothing to keep store owners from defending themselves. If the governor has his way, the only recourse a store employee will have against robbers will be to get down on his knees and beg fpr mercy, promising to give them anything they want in the store if they do not shoot him. If the robbers are high on drugs, they will probably shoot the employees anyway. When it is all over and the robbers have left, the police will arrive and make a report. All sane people of Virginia should make sure that their governor never again is elected to any public office.
Is that Coonman Northam? The doctor that endorses fourth trimester abortions?
Democrats do love, protect and defend their Banditos.
I would guess that the three villains are a protected species!
Marxist, moron tyrants need to hang…looking at you, gubner’ blackface!!
It is truly unfortunate that the store employee didn’t have home defense 12 ga alley sweeper, then he could have gotten all of the perpetrators Instead of wounding just one, a juvenile (delinquent) the philosophy should be remembered “Don’t do the CRIME if you can’t do the TIME”. There is the “castle” doctrine and he was defending the place of his domicile at the time. However there’s the problem of his restriction to a weapon.
Break into my place at that time of day or anytime and all three would be leaving in body bags and not because of Covid 19, but lead poisoning. “MOLON LABE“ Florida Rules.
This goes against everything we believe in as self protection in this country. I am surprised they would hold an honest citizen responsible for this and not the criminals. I can not understand why the police there are so communist like compared to the rest of the country. I think the police chief is the one that should be locked up and not the store owner. The store owner was within his rights to protect himself and the store.
Richard
It seems a lot of freedoms are denied in Virginia.
Va. is a dump.
Now if it were a cop that defended himself, there would be no charges. Honest citizens are held to a higher standard than police…
Heres to hoping one of the pro-gun groups will send a good lawyer to ream the local government out and bring suit against them for violating his right to defend himself and property dang anti-gunners
I guess this is not surprising as it took place in a democrat state. Just let criminals do what they want and run away so your not charged for defending you life or property.
More of the ‘east coast’ moron syndrome. The state should change its spelling to the land of Vagina.
Why he’s defending his turf, drop the charges.
Bad optics VA real bad
Virginia, who would want to live there anyway, especially with that Governor who is a total loser.
Only in America can thieves steal from you and you are not allowed to protect yourself or your valuables. So if you do nothing but call LE, by the time they arrive your stuff is gone, maybe you are dead and the thieves live to steal more or kill another day. HAY.
A “protective order” even to not possess firearms becomes Legally invalid at the point where Exigent Circumstances exist.. The proper argument before the Court should .. He was not in possession of the firearms until that point.. There is no law requiring even a prohibited possessor to not be in the presence of a firearm. At the point people unlawfully entered the business and posed a threat to his life.. Exigent circumstances existed and he was legally exercising his right to self defense which cannot be restricted by any “protective order” he could use a knife , a gun, a car a Bow and Arrow.. it does not matter.. all are legal for him to use at that point..
Of course this would happen in the Peoples Republic of Arlington. But this is why cops are no damn good. We have a society that worships cops with this “thin blue line” rhetoric. The “thin green line” wasn’t quite enough. Cops say they become cops because they want to “help people.” But that’s a lie. The good ones go into it for the pension and don’t want to do anything. The donut shop ones are actually the good ones. Most of the others go into it because they were pushed agains lockers in high school and want to spend the rest of their lives pushing everyone else around. A real American never talks to a cop, and never indulges them with Q and A sessions. They’re not there to be your friend or help you. They’re there to F you. Cops generally suck as people and gravitate towards mind numbed group think environments. Get a lawyer right away if one crosses your path.
No. 1 – He’s NOT an American, he never will be. It takes more than a piece of paper to make you an American. This nation was founded by a specific set of people FOR a specific set of people and this was NEVER a problem until recently. It seems that Asians, Africans, and Arabs can all have nations of their own. Europeans however are racist for saying that Europe/America/Canada/Australia (there are more) belong to the White man. I’m not playing their game anymore, I do NOT apologize for being White. I do NOT apologize for the nation my ancestors bequeathed to ME, not to Arabs, not to Africans, not to Asians – ME a European White AMERICAN. I don’t CARE who’s feathers this ruffles, it’s just too bad.
Governor Blackface might want to start running out the back door of the Capitol.