Aug. 24--A Wauconda convenience store clerk shot and killed a man Sunday night who was attempting to rob the store, police and one of the store managers said.
Ahmad Samhan, 24, was working behind the register of the Kwick Shop convenience store during the attempted robbery, according to Jawad Samhan, Ahmad's 30-year-old brother.
"He had a gun pointed at him. I think anyone in his position would do the same thing," said Jawad Samhan, adding that his brother used the store's .40-caliber handgun that is hidden behind the counter.
Jawad Samhan, who was interviewed Monday morning as he opened the store, said his brother remains shaken by the incident.
"He was in shock. He was freaked out and crying," Jawad Samhan said.
"He's all right (today), it's just very hard for him. With the help of family and friends he should be OK."
Police responded to a call of a robbery in progress at Kwick Shop, 112 E. Liberty St., just after 9 p.m., according to a police news release.
Police learned that a masked man had entered the store, pointed a weapon at a customer and a 24-year-old clerk, and demanded money.
The clerk grabbed a gun from a hidden location and fired at the masked man while the store customer fled, according to the release. The masked man "fell to the ground," police said in the release, apparently wounded by gunshots from the clerk's weapon. It's unclear how many times the man was shot, and police were not answering more questions about the incident until later Monday.
According to Jawad Samhan, Ahmad grabbed the gun after telling the alleged robber that he was reaching toward a safe under the counter.
Fire personnel took the man to Good Shepherd Hospital in Barrington. He was pronounced dead at 9:42 p.m. No exact age was available for the man, who was not officially identified, but the release said he was in his early 20s.
There was nothing in the release about whether the masked man actually took any money from either the customer or clerk or whether anyone else was injured in the incident. Jawad Samhan said money never crossed the counter.
"This is a really safe town, really good people around here," Jawad Samhan said. "It could happen anywhere.
"I feel sorry for his family," he added. "I hope I don't know his family."
Lisa Marie Hewkin, who lives across the street, said she and her husband heard the gunshots.
"We heard the shots and we heard the clerk outside saying, 'We need an ambulance right now!' said Hewkin, 33. "He had to step over the body in the doorway."
Lake County State's Attorney Michael Nerheim said he was contacted by Wauconda police Sunday night and received preliminary information. He said he is waiting for police to finish their investigation before his office determines whether charges will be filed.
"From our end, no decisions have been made," he said.
He also did not know if money was taken.
Lake County Coroner Thomas Rudd said that neither he nor the police have been able to identify the victim.
"We are waiting on fingerprints," he said. "Or we will have to do DNA."
An autopsy is scheduled at 2:30 p.m. He did not have information about where or how many times the victim was shot.
The deceased appears to be a white male, though Rudd thought he could be older than his 20s.
Frank Abderholden is a News-Sun reporter and Lisa Black is a Chicago Tribune reporter. The Chicago Tribune's Breaking News Center also contributed.
