© Photo by James Carbone / June 2, 2009Mohammad Sohail, 62, shows how he turned the tables on a bat-wielding man who stormed into his Shirley store demanding cash.
When a bat-wielding masked man walked into a Shirley convenience store and demanded cash, store owner Mohammad Sohail pulled out a rifle, ordered the man to get on the floor - and then, he says, found himself overcome with compassion.
Sohail, moved by the would-be robber's tale that hard economic times had pushed him to the edge, gave the unidentified man $40 and a loaf of bread and asked him to promise never to commit a robbery again, the store owner said.
"He started crying," Sohail, said of the intruder's reaction once the store owner pulled out his rifle. "He was saying: 'I have no money. I have no food. I have no job. I have to take care of my family.' "
Most of the incident, which Suffolk County police said was reported in a 911 call at 12:35 a.m. May 21, was captured on a surveillance camera at Shirley Express Convenience on William Floyd Parkway. (video)
Detectives in the Seventh Squad in Shirley have reviewed the video and interviewed Sohail. "We are still trying to identify this individual for an attempted robbery," said Det. Sgt. John Best. If found, the suspect could face a first-degree felony charge.
While police caution the public against challenging would-be robbers, Best said Sohail was in no legal peril. "The gun was lawfully possessed and obviously he did use it in defense of himself and his business," he said.
A longtime Shirley resident, Sohail said he knows times are tough. He said that is why he was willing to extend a hand.
"This wasn't someone who was 16 years old," he said. "It was a man. He said, 'Please, don't shoot me. Please, don't call the police.' "
Sohail said the man begged for mercy and said he "wanted to be a Muslim just like me." The two then said a prayer together, he said. After handing the man the $40 and the bread, he went to get him some milk, he said. When he returned, the man had fled on foot, Sohail said.
Sohail said he does not want the man to face charges.
Still, Sohail said he does not want the would-be robber to end up in jail. "I hope he learned something," Sohail said.
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