Jury views video of clerk shooting robber 33 times - 13abc.com Toledo (OH) News, Weather and Sports

Tonight the dramatic video of a store clerk accused of shooting and killing a robbery suspect. Investigators say the clerk shot the suspect 33 times with the suspects weapon.

The store clerk took the stand. He testified he shot the suspect in self defense.

The video shows Bandar Abu-Karsh behind the counter. Robbery suspect Lamar Allen who's dressed in black makes the clerk get on his knees. The other robber Joe Hunter is dressed in gray.

Allen put's down his tec -9 handgun and starts to fill trash bags with store items. A customer walks in the store to buy a pop.  Hunter follows the woman, forces her into the bathroom at gunpoint and robs her.  That's when prosecutors say the clerk reached for the store gun and shot Allen in the head

X-rays were shown of some of the bullet wounds in the suspect. The coroner testified Allen had 33 gun shot wounds.

"The head, torso which is the chest and abdomen both arms the hands and the legs," said Dr. Cynthia Beiser.

Dr Cynthia Beiser testified the gun shot to Allen's head did not kill him.  She says he died from multiple shots and blood loss.

After the clerk shot Allen the other robber comes out of the bathroom, fires at least two shots at the clerk, crouches down and runs out of the store

The defense says the robbers were dangerous gang members and his client feared for his life. Abu-Karsh's lawyer showed pictures of Allen's multiple gang tattoos.  Tattoos that depict Allen's violent street life.

In cross examination of the lead detective Abu-Karsh's lawyer asked the investigator about the tattoo across Allen's stomach that read death before disloyalty

"Don't turn on your gang die before you turn on you gang before you be disloyal to your gang or set," Toledo police detective Larry Anderson

Prosecutors say Abu-Karsh crossed the line when he grabbed the suspects gun and shot the robber again.  You can only partially see because the prosecutor is in front of the screen.  But the clerk steps over the body, grabs the tec-9, fires two shots, comes back and fires numerous more. You can see shell casings flying everywhere

The prosecutor also played the 911 call from the clerk.  The lead detectives interview with the clerk was also played in court.  Again the clerk told the investigator he feared for his safety