Advertisement

Video shows a Polk County store clerk shooting a man who was stealing Natural Ice beer

 
Mehedeun Hasan, 22, of Lakeland, faces a charge of attempted second-degree murder after he was seen on surveillance video shooting a man accused of stealing beer from his convenience store. [Polk County Sheriff's Office]
Mehedeun Hasan, 22, of Lakeland, faces a charge of attempted second-degree murder after he was seen on surveillance video shooting a man accused of stealing beer from his convenience store. [Polk County Sheriff's Office]
Published July 18, 2018

A Lakeland convenience store clerk has been charged with attempted second-degree murder after he chased and shot a man who walked out with $36 worth of Natural Ice beer.

Mehedeun Hasan, 22, and his father Q M Monsur Rahman, 61, were behind the counter of the Shell gas station they co-own when Rennie Defoe Jr. walked in around 11:40 p.m. Tuesday, according to the Polk County Sheriff's Office.

Defoe, 43, went to the refrigerator and took three 18 packs of Natural Ice beer. As he approached the door, Hasan and Rahman realized he was stealing the beer and the son headed for the office to retrieve a gun.

Defoe tossed the beer in the passenger seat of his 2005 Toyota Camry and started to back out. Hasan ran out of the office, stumbled and dropped the 9-mm gun.

The owners of the convenience store at 125 Combee Road N then ran outside and the son pressed the barrel of the gun against the window.

As Defoe backed out, Hasan shot into the window and struck the driver once. Defoe drove off and crashed soon after. He is listed in critical condition with wounds to his arm and chest, according to the sheriff's office.

Hasan was arrested the next day and charged with shooting into an occupied vehicle and attempted second-degree murder.