Surveillance video captured Lee County store clerk’s final moments

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A convenience store clerk was found dead Monday morning inside the Gulf Express at 4843 Palm Beach Blvd. (Stephanie Susskind/WINK News)

FORT MYERS, Fla. – Syed Abdul Ahad was working behind the counter at Gulf Express on Palm Beach Boulevard at about 2:29 a.m. Monday when a man walked in, pulled out a handgun and shot him twice in the chest.

As Ahad laid dying, slumped behind the counter, the man then jumped over the counter and took cash from the register, as shown in store surveillance video, according to a Lee County Sheriff’s Office report.

Ahad, 62, was pronounced dead 26 minutes later.

Detectives used the video to identify Christopher Darrell Harris as a suspect. Harris, 24, was located at the Palm Beach Motel, about a block from the gas station.

“Harris was exiting room #8 when deputies arrived at the location and immediately slammed the door shut upon sight of law enforcement,” the report said.

Harris, who is homeless and a convicted felon out of Georgia, had $158 on him in $1, $5 and $10 bills, the report said. He was taken into custody and later charged with homicide, robbery with a firearm and possession of a weapon by a convicted felon.

Lee County District Court Judge Leigh Hayes said the “evidence of guilt is great” against Harris, who had his first court appearance on Tuesday.

He was given no bond. His next court appearance is March 14.

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