In a dramatic turn of events, a convenience store employee at a gated Essex Food Store in Portsmouth, Virginia, defended himself against a thief last Thursday afternoon, resulting in the thief’s death.
It was around 2:25 p.m., when 27-year-old Rahsaan Nixon entered Essex with the stated intent to steal merchandise. This incident followed an attempted robbery by Nixon the previous night at the same store. According to a man interviewed by WAVY 10 in the store parking lot, Nixon had tried and failed to rob the store on Wednesday night, returning Thursday to repeat his crime.
“He tried to rob the store the night before, and he came back the next day to do what he did not do Wednesday night,” said the man. “He tried to rob the place. … I don’t know if he succeeded, but he tried to rob the place, so when he comes back on Thursday, he gets killed.”
Police didn’t confirm the Wednesday confrontation to the news station, but the man they interviewed seemed to know exactly what went down.
“All those shots, I come out and find the guy was dead. I think it was stupid. Why was he trying to rob a place one night and come back and hit the same spot again? He has got to know he is going down,” he said.
And “down” is exactly where Nixon went.
When he entered the store and began grabbing merchandise, Nixon was quickly confronted by the clerk. An altercation ensued, leading to the employee to open fire in self-defense.
Police arrived to find Nixon shot, and despite being rushed to a local hospital, he succumbed to his injuries.
“He tried to rob the place. … I don’t know if he succeeded, but he tried to rob the place, so when he comes back on Thursday, he gets killed,” the witness told WAVY.
The Portsmouth Police Major Crimes Unit has launched a criminal investigation, but no charges have been filed against the store employee. Police Chief Stephen Jenkins acknowledged the unfortunate reality of violence in communities but emphasized the right to self-defense, especially in situations where individuals face repeated threats.
Ironically, right outside of the store stands a large billboard that reads: Gun Crime Means More Time. While there is no indication Nixon had a gun, his crime still cost him a lot of time, like forever.
This incident serves as a stark reminder of the necessity for law-abiding citizens to be prepared to protect themselves and their property. The Essex Food Store, with its caged windows as a precaution against break-ins, is a testament to the constant vigilance required in today’s society and the risk criminals face and the price they might pay, when good people fight back.
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