A father of five playing slots in a store is shot dead by the clerk, police say

An argument between a store clerk in North Miami-Dade and a customer who had been playing a slot machine in the back of the store escalated to gunfire and a shooting death, police said.

Miami-Dade police said store clerk Ghazi Salhout, 45, shot the man several times just outside the store, then continued to shoot him after he collapsed. Salhout called 911 then remained on the scene until he was detained and questioned by police. He was later arrested and charged with second-degree murder.

Family members told Miami Herald news partner CBS4 that Willie Sabb, 58, had been playing slots in the back of the store and began arguing with the clerk as he tried to cash out his winnings at the Bawa Market at 9300 NW 17th Ave., at about 1 a.m. Wednesday.

Sabb is a father of five who family members told CBS4 has lost two sons to gun violence.

"A male store clerk was involved in a physical altercation with an adult male," Miami-Dade Police Sgt. Carlos Rosario said . "The store clerk got a gun and shot the victim multiple times."

According to Ghazi's police report, the clerk told officers he shot the customer after they got into an argument and he believed he was reaching for a weapon in his waist band. But after reviewing video surveillance, police determined that Ghazi's explanation didn't hold up.

"It does not appear the victim was armed nor did the victim make any sudden movements or gestures for the defendant to interpret the victim's actions as life-threatening," the arresting officer wrote.

Sabb died at the market. His body remained near the store's doorway until at least 5:30 a.m. as detectives gathered evidence and conducted forensic tests.

This story was originally published May 2, 2018 at 5:52 AM with the headline "A father of five playing slots in a store is shot dead by the clerk, police say."