DETROIT (WWJ) -- A former Detroit gas station clerk will spend 20-to-50 years in prison for shooting a customer to death more than two years ago.
Moad Mohamed Al-Gaham was convicted last month of second-degree murder for shooting and killing 25-year-old Anthony McNary, whom he suspected of trying to steal beef jerky at the Exxon station in June of 2023.
Speaking at his sentencing Friday, Al-Gaham said he is "very remorseful," and apologized to the victim's family. He added, "I swear to God I had no plan to harm him," insisting that he only meant to scare McNary with the gun when it somehow went off.
According to police, Al-Gaham accused McNary of shoplifting at the store on Vernor Highway near Clark. He rifled through McNary's pockets, retrieved a beef jerky stick, forced McNary out of the store as he offered to pay, and locked the door.
Authorities said Al-Gaham then drew a handgun, pointed it at McNary's head and shot him through the glass door, killing him.
The prosecutors McNary was unarmed.
The gas station, which was operating without a license, was shut down after the shooting.
In a statement, the McNary family said Friday: “We are grateful for the jury’s verdict and the judge’s sentence today of 20 to 50 years for Mr. Al-Gaham. Nothing will bring our Anthony back to us and we miss him so much, but today gives us some sense of justice.”
Fieger Law says has filed a $100 million lawsuit against ExxonMobil on behalf of the McNary family.
The firm said, in a media release: "The actions of Mr. Al-Gaham are horrific, and the inactions of ExxonMobil leading up to this incident demonstrate a complete disregard for the safety of our community. We are eager to continue the pursuit of justice for Anthony."