2012 Hustle Mart shooting

2012 convenience store shooting and triple murder in Farmville, North Carolina Farmville, North Carolina, United States 2012 Hustle Mart shooting.jpg Surveillance camera screenshot showing the perpetrators entering the store April 1, 2012 Murders by shootingRobbery Mokbel Mohamed AlmujanahiGaber AlawiNabil Nasser Saeed Al'mogannahi Antwan AnthonyWillie WhiteheadXavier ShambleRaekwon Blount Guilty Anthony First-degree murder (3 counts)Second-degree murder (2 counts)These convictions along with 1 of the robbery convictions were for the murders of Quantellis Tyvon Carr and Jasmine Leticia Chesson on March 18. Whitehead was also present for this crime.Robbery with a dangerous weapon (2 counts)Whitehead First-degree murder (3 counts)Accessory to second-degree murder (2 counts)Robbery with a dangerous weaponShambleSecond-degree murder (3 counts)Robbery with a dangerous weapon Blount Second-degree murder (3 counts)Robbery with a dangerous weapon yes AnthonyDeathWhiteheadLife without paroleShamble13 to 18 years' imprisonmentBlount115 to 150 months' imprisonment On April 1, 2012, three employees – 16-year-old Mokbel "Sam" Mohamed Almujanahi, 24-year-old Gaber Alawi, and 26-year-old Nabil Nasser Saeed Al'mogannahi – were robbed and shot to death at a convenience store in rural Farmville, North Carolina. Investigations into the case led to the capture of four male suspects, including a 14-year-old juvenile. Two of the perpetrators, Willie Odell Whitehead Jr. and Antwan Anthony, were both found guilty of first-degree murder. Anthony was sentenced to death as the shooter of the case, while Whitehead, who planned the robbery and murders, was sentenced to life without parole. The remaining two co-defendants, Xavier Montel Shamble and Raekwon Blount, pleaded guilty to lesser charges of second-degree murder and were sentenced to prison terms: 13 to 18 years for Shamble and 115 to 150 months (or 9 years and 7 months to 12 years and 6 months) for Blount.Fifth anniversary of Hustle Mart murders April 1, 2017 WCTI 12 https://wcti12.com/news/local/fifth-anniversary-of-hustle-mart-murders Murders On April 1, 2012, a group of four men arrived at the Hustle Mart, a local convenience store in rural Farmville, North Carolina, where they intended to commit armed robbery. Originally, the group planned to rob a drug dealer on that same day, and also bought some ammunition and a green 1994 Chrysler Concorde to prepare for their robbery plot. However, their intended victim did not show up after they waited outside the apartment complex for some time to go after him. On their way back home, one of the four men, 29-year-old Antwan Andre Anthony, suggested that they should go rob a convenience store, and they later selected the Hustle Mart as their target.State v. Whitehead [2018], North Carolina Court of Appeals (United States). Three of the four men – Anthony, 19-year-old Xavier Montel Shamble and 14-year-old Raekwon Terrell Blount – entered the store, while the fourth man, 23-year-old Willie Odell Whitehead Jr., waited for the others inside the car. While in the premises, Anthony confronted the store's employees at gunpoint while Blount retrieved the money from the cash register. Anthony shot and killed the three employees: 16-year-old Mokbel "Sam" Mohamed Almujanahi, 24-year-old Gaber Alawi, and 26-year-old Nabil Nasser Saeed Al'mogannahi. After the shootings, the gunmen left the store, and rejoined Whitehead in the car before they escaped.Police hunt for killers of 3 men at rural North Carolina store April 4, 2012 NBC News https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/police-hunt-killers-3-men-rural-north-carolina-store-flna644534 A customer discovered the bodies of the trio after the robbers fled the store. One of them, Gaber, died at the scene while the other two, Nabil and Sam, were rushed to hospital but they succumbed to their injuries. Autopsy reports later concluded that the men died as a result of gunshot wounds to their heads.Suspects in triple-murder robbery were fresh from prison April 14, 2012 NBC News https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/suspects-triple-murder-robbery-were-fresh-prison-flna715576 Sam was the son of the store's owner, while both Nabil and Gaber were his cousins. The trio were part of an immigrant family from Yemen.Store shooting victims laid to rest April 18, 2012 abc7NY https://abc7ny.com/archive/8606366/ Prior to the triple shooting, three of the killers were only released from prison merely months or weeks leading up to the crime. Anthony was previously incarcerated in several prisons in Connecticut from 2002 to 2012. He was first convicted and jailed for second-degree assault charges, but while in prison, he was convicted thrice of assaulting corrections officers, and his sentence was therefore extended on each occasion, before he was released on January 21, 2012, and was allowed to serve his five-year parole period in North Carolina, where his family resided. Shamble was similarly released from prison only three weeks for an unspecified offence before the murders. Whitehead was released months prior in August 2012 for possession of a weapon by a felon. He also had antecedents since 2004 for various offences such as robbery with a dangerous weapon and larceny. Charges After the murders, the police conducted a manhunt for three of the suspects, based on the CCTV footage that captured them. The family and Crimestoppers also put up a $10,000 reward for any crucial information leading to the arrest of the murderers. On April 4, 2012, the four men – Antwan Anthony, Raekwon Blount, Xavier Shamble, and Willie Whitehead – were all arrested. They were charged with three counts each of first-degree murder, first-degree kidnapping, robbery with a dangerous weapon and one count of conspiracy to commit robbery.Four charged in Pitt County convenience store deaths April 4, 2012 WRAL https://www.wral.com/archive/10943987/ On April 25, 2012, 25-year-old Zipporah Rochell Purvis was the fifth person to be charged pertaining to the Hustle Mart shootings, and she faced three counts of accessory after the fact to murder.Farmville woman is fifth charged in Hustle Mart triple homicide April 25, 2012 WRAL https://www.wral.com/archive/11019641/ On August 15, 2012, Blount, the only juvenile amongst the four, was ordered to be tried as an adult for first-degree murder charges. Given that he was 14 at the time of the offences, Blount would not be sentenced to death in accordance with North Carolina state law. He was formally indicted by a Pitt County grand jury on August 28, 2012. Blount's 29-year-old mother, Valerie Denise Blount, was charged with one count of contributing to the delinquency of a minor, and she was the sixth person charged in this case.Juvenile indicted as adult in Farmville triple homicide August 28, 2012 WRAL https://www.wral.com/archive/11475899/ Juvenile tried as adult in Farmville murders August 15, 2012 WCTI 12 https://wcti12.com/archive/juvenile-tried-as-adult-in-farmville-murders On September 25, 2012, 25-year-old Ashley Dorthell Johnson was indicted by a grand jury on three counts of being an accessory after the fact of first-degree murder, therefore becoming the seventh person to be arrested and charged in connection to the shootings.7th arrest made in Hustle Mart triple murder September 25, 2012 WCTI 12 https://wcti12.com/archive/7th-arrest-made-in-hustle-mart-triple-murder Seventh person charged in Farmville triple homicide September 26, 2012 WRAL https://www.wral.com/archive/11591131/ On October 9, 2012, 28-year-old Timmy Odell House, the older brother of Whitehead, was also charged for allegedly helping his brother and the other three killers to destroy the clothes that they wore during the robbery-murders.Eighth person charged in Farmville triple homicide October 9, 2012 WRAL https://www.wral.com/archive/11640000/ 8th arrest made in Farmville triple murder October 9, 2012 WCTI 12 https://wcti12.com/archive/8th-arrest-made-in-farmville-triple-murder On April 13, 2015, Anthony was set to stand trial on September 29, 2015.Trial date set for triple murder suspect in Hustle Mart murders April 13, 2015 WCNT https://wcti12.com/archive/trial-date-set-for-triple-murder-suspect-in-hustle-mart-murders On July 16, 2015, a judge denied Anthony's request to replace District Attorney Kimberly Robb with another prosecutor in his upcoming trial.Judge rejects request for new prosecutor in Hustle Mart case July 16, 2015 WCNT https://www.wnct.com/news/judge-rejects-request-for-new-prosecutor-in-hustle-mart-case/ On January 11, 2016, Anthony was re-scheduled to stand trial on February 8, 2016, for the triple murder.Accused Hustle Mart murder suspect heads to trial Feb. 8 January 11, 2016 WCNT https://www.wnct.com/news/accused-hustle-mart-murder-suspect-heads-to-trial-feb-8/ Additional murder charges against Whitehead and Anthony Before they stood trial for the Hustle Mart murders, both Anthony and Whitehead were charged with killing two more people in an unrelated case. In this case, on March 18, 2012, the pair killed a couple, 33-year-old Quantellis Tyvon Carr and 31-year-old Jasmine Leticia Chesson, by fatally shooting them in their heads at their home in Princeville, North Carolina.Farmville slayings suspects charged with killing Princeville couple May 29, 2012 WRAL https://www.wral.com/archive/11147276/ 2 Farmville Triple-Murders Suspects Linked To 2 More Murders May 29, 2012 WCTI 12 https://wcti12.com/archive/2-farmville-triple-murders-suspects-linked-to-2-more-murders Another three suspects were also charged in connection to the case.Third suspect facing murder charges May 31, 2012 ABC11 https://abc11.com/archive/8681859/ Fifth person charged with killing Princeville couple May 31, 2012 WRAL https://www.wral.com/archive/11153586/ On March 9, 2015, before the start of his trial for the double murder, Anthony pleaded guilty to one count of robbery with a dangerous weapon and two counts of second-degree murder. He was subsequently sentenced to 621 to 782 months in prison, equivalent to approximately 52 to 65 years.Suspect pleads in Princeville murders March 9, 2015 The Daily Reflector https://www.reflector.com/news/local/suspect-pleads-in-princeville-murders/article_eff0b888-3dcd-58bc-b5a4-3c4840ba7d11.html Man charged with five murders convicted in two cases March 9, 2015 WCTI 12 https://wcti12.com/archive/man-charged-with-five-murders-convicted-in-two-cases On October 23, 2015, Whitehead pleaded guilty to two counts of accessory after the fact to second-degree murder, and he was sentenced to 87 and 117 months in prison by Superior Court Judge Walter H. Godwin.Hustle Mart murder suspect pleaded guilty in another murder case October 23, 2015 WNCT https://www.wnct.com/news/hustle-mart-murder-suspect-pleaded-guilty-in-another-murder-case/ Alleged plot to kill sheriff In October 2012, Whitehead allegedly plotted to kidnap Pitt County Sheriff Neil Elks, his wife and a prosecutor's child, so as to regain his freedom from prison. He also intended to kill them if it was required, and he also discussed about his plot with other inmates and people he contacted outside the jail. Howeber, his plan was foiled after an informant alerted the authorities about it.Suspect in Farmville triple homicide charged in plot to kill Pitt sheriff October 17, 2012 WRAL https://www.wral.com/archive/11666427/ On October 17, 2012, Whitehead was charged with two counts of solicitation to commit first-degree murder and two counts of solicitation to commit first-degree kidnapping. He was held under a $3 million bond in a state prison.Triple murder suspect charged in plot to kill sheriff and family October 17, 2012 WCTI 12 https://wcti12.com/archive/triple-murder-suspect-charged-in-plot-to-kill-sheriff-and-family In February 2014, Whitehead requested to have his bond reduced to $100,000 for all the charges, but the judge turned down the bond reduction application.Bond reduction denied for suspect in Hustle Mart murders, sheriff murder plot February 4, 2014 WCTI 12 https://wcti12.com/archive/bond-reduction-denied-for-suspect-in-hustle-mart-murders-sheriff-murder-plot_20160526014946212 Perpetrators Antwan Anthony Antawn Anthony was the first of the four perpetrators to be put on trial for the Hustle Mart murders, and his trial began on February 8, 2016, and jury selection took place later that same month.Trial expected to begin for Hustle Mart murder suspect, Antwan Anthony February 6, 2016 WNCT https://www.wnct.com/news/trial-expected-to-begin-for-hustle-mart-murder-suspect-antwan-anthony/ Nine jurors selected for trial of triple murder suspect February 22, 2016 WCTI 12 https://wcti12.com/archive/nine-jurors-selected-for-trial-of-triple-murder-suspect- On March 21, 2016, after deliberating the case for over an hour, the jury found Anthony guilty of three counts of first-degree murder.NC man found guilty in murders of 3 family members working at store March 21, 2016 CBS 17 https://www.cbs17.com/news/nc-man-found-guilty-in-murders-of-3-family-members-working-at-store/ Jury deliberates one hour, returns guilty verdict for Anthony March 22, 2016 The Daily Reflector https://www.reflector.com/news/crime/jury-deliberates-one-hour-returns-guilty-verdict-for-anthony/article_741c2423-fe23-565e-ad94-fc6fc01bc0af.html The sentencing trial of Anthony began on March 23, 2016, and closing arguments were made on April 1, 2016, with the prosecution seeking the death penalty based on the brutality of the crimes, which were committed in furtherance of Anthony's determination to eliminate witnesses and avoid going back to prison, and how his actions left an impact on the families of the victims. The defence, on the other hand, asked for a life sentence on the grounds that Anthony was suffering from impaired mental responsibility at the time of the shootings.Sentencing phase underway for triple murder triggerman Antwan Anthony March 23, 2016 WCTI 12 https://wcti12.com/archive/sentencing-phase-underway-for-triple-murder-triggerman-antwan-anthony- Death sentence decision now in the jury's hands for Antwan Anthony April 1, 2016 WCTI 12 https://wcti12.com/archive/death-sentence-decision-now-in-the-jurys-hands-for-antwan-anthony On April 6, 2016, Anthony was sentenced to death by the trial judge upon the jury's unanimous recommendation for capital punishment. Anthony was the first defendant from Pitt County to be sentenced to death in 16 years after Mark Squires was last condemned to death row by the county in 2000.Man sentenced to death for Farmville triple murder April 6, 2016 WRAL https://www.wral.com/archive/15622206/ Antwan Anthony sentenced to death for murder of three Hustle Mart employees April 6, 2016 WCTI 12 https://wcti12.com/archive/antwan-anthony-sentenced-to-death-for-murder-of-three-hustle-mart-employees_20160526055247833 Willie Whitehead Willie Whitehead was the second defendant of the case to stand trial, and his trial began at Pitt County on September 16, 2016.Suspect in 2012 Triple Murder in Court September 26, 2016 Spectrum News https://spectrumlocalnews.com/us/snplus/news/2016/09/16/suspect-in-2012-triple-murder-in-court On September 26, 2016, Whitehead was found guilty of three counts of first-degree murder and robbery with a dangerous weapon. After his conviction, Whitehead was sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole for each of the three murder charges, in addition to 115 months to 150 months in prison for the robbery charge.Whitehead found guilty, sentenced to life in prison for each count of 1st degree murder September 26, 2016 WNCT https://www.wnct.com/news/whitehead-found-guilty-sentenced-to-life-in-prison-for-each-count-of-1st-degree-murder/ Jury finds second suspect guilty of triple murder at Farmville store September 26, 2016 WCTI 12 https://wcti12.com/archive/jury-finds-second-suspect-guilty-of-triple-murder-at-farmville-store Raekwon Blount On November 2, 2016, Raekwon Blount reached a plea agreement with the prosecution, and pleaded guilty to three counts of second-degree murder and one count of robbery with a dangerous weapon. He was sentenced to 115 to 150 months' imprisonment, and the time he served was also credited into the sentence.Raekwon Blount takes plea deal for role in Hustle Mart triple murder November 2, 2016 WNCT https://www.wnct.com/news/raekwon-blount-takes-plea-deal-for-role-in-hustle-mart-triple-murder/ One of Hustle Mart triple murder suspects takes plea deal November 2, 2016 WCTI 12 https://wcti12.com/archive/one-of-hustle-mart-triple-murder-suspects-takes-plea-deal Xavier Shamble On November 4, 2016, Xavier Shamble was the fourth and final suspect to be convicted of the Hustle Mart shootings, after he accepted a plea deal from the prosecution and admitted to three lesser counts of second degree murder and one count of armed robbery. After entering his plea, Shamble was sentenced to 13 and 18 years in prison by the court.Fourth triple murder suspect takes plea deal, gets lesser charge November 4, 2016 WCTI 12 https://wcti12.com/archive/fourth-triple-murder-suspect-takes-plea-deal-gets-lesser-charge 4th Hustle Mart defendant takes plea deal November 4, 2016 WNCT https://www.wnct.com/news/4th-hustle-mart-defendant-takes-plea-deal/ Appeal process In June 2016, two months after he was condemned to death row, Antwan Anthony filed an appeal for a new trial for the Hustle Mart murders.Hearing set for arguments about possible new trial for Pitt Co convicted killer June 8, 2016 WNCT https://www.wnct.com/news/hearing-set-for-arguments-about-possible-new-trial-for-pitt-co-convicted-killer/ Antwan Anthony to have hearing about possible new trial June 8, 2016 WCTI 12 https://wcti12.com/archive/antwan-anthony-to-have-hearing-about-possible-new-trial On August 4, 2016, a Pitt County judge rejected Anthony's appeal for a new trial.No new trial for NC man convicted of convenience store slaying August 5, 2016 CBS 17 https://www.cbs17.com/news/no-new-trial-for-nc-man-convicted-of-convenience-store-slaying/ Judge rules convicted murderer Antwan Anthony will not receive new trial August 4, 2016 WCTI 12 https://wcti12.com/archive/judge-rules-convicted-murderer-antwan-anthony-will-not-receive-new-trial After his sentencing, Willie Whitehead filed an appeal to the North Carolina Court of Appeals against his conviction and sentence. On September 18, 2018, the North Carolina Court of Appeals denied Whitehead's appeal. Aftermath In November 2021, nine years after the Hustle Mart shootings, true crime documentary series See No Evil re-enacted the Hustle Mart case and aired it as the fourth episode of the show's eighth season.Pitt County murder case to be highlighted by popular crime documentary series November 24, 2021 WCTI 12 https://wcti12.com/news/local/pitt-county-murder-case-to-be-highlighting-by-popular-crime-documentary-series "See No Evil" Hustle Mart Murders (TV Episode 2021) IMDb November 24, 2011 October 22, 2026 https://www.imdb.com/title/tt16250060/ About 11 years after the Hustle Mart shootings, one of the perpetrators, Raekwon Blount, was released from prison on September 28, 2023, and he was required to be under post-release supervision for one year until September 27, 2024.Youngest suspect in triple murder released from prison October 5, 2023 The Daily Reflector https://www.reflector.com/news/crime/youngest-suspect-in-triple-murder-released-from-prison/article_e5042c98-62ef-11ee-aa5b-537bbf452be4.html However, three months later, on January 18, 2024, Blount was once again arrested as a suspect behind the murder of Zytorius Jahod Ruffin that same month, and he was charged with accessory after the fact to murder.Previously jailed Farmville man faces new charges in a murder case January 18, 2024 WCTI 12 https://wcti12.com/news/local/farmville-man-charged-with-accessory-after-the-fact-of-murder-jailed-without-bond Farmville man convicted in Hustle Mart murders back behind bars on new charges January 19, 2024 WITN https://www.witn.com/2024/01/19/farmville-man-convicted-hustle-mart-murder-back-behind-bars-new-charges/ Notes See also Capital punishment in North Carolina List of death row inmates in the United States North Carolina References Category:2012 in North Carolina Category:2012 murders in the United States Category:Deaths by firearm in North Carolina Category:April 2012 crimes in the United States Category:Murder in North Carolina Category:Incidents of violence against men Category:Violence against men in the United States Category:People murdered in North Carolina Category:Murdered American students Category:Child murder in North Carolina