JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A 31-year-old ex-convict has been charged with attempted murder and armed robbery after police said he shot a clerk at a neighborhood market Wednesday afternoon and was captured after he ran toward a police substation.
Martinis Williams is also charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, police said.
The clerk, Richard Tucker, was shot in the chin, witnesses said. He was taken to a hospital in critical condition but was improving Thursday, according to a woman who lives with him.
She told News4Jax that he has a long recovery ahead but is resting. Many who know him said they are just happy he’s alive.
“He's such a good man, and he doesn't deserve anything like this,” one concerned woman said. “It's just sad how things like this go on. I don't know why anybody would want to do something like this to him.”
Police were called about 3:45 p.m. Wednesday to a disturbance at Bill's Food Store on Confederate Point Road and found Tucker shot.
Police said Williams ran from the store but that a good witness description allowed officers to capture him a short distance away, near a police substation.
Police said the robbery was caught on surveillance video and shows Williams pointing a revolver at the clerk, who took money from the register and handed it to Williams before Williams fired a shot, hitting the clerk in the face.
Police said Williams had blood all over his shirt, sneakers and shorts when he was caught and that the bag he was carrying contained cash, cigarettes and a firearm that matched the firearm in the video.
The general manager for Coastal Cab said one of his drivers was in the area and was also able to provide video from the cab's camera that showed a clear picture of the robber's face.
Friends said Tucker, whom many know as Steve, has worked in the store for a while.
“He comes here, opens the door, welcomes everybody into the store, doesn't judge nobody,” neighbor Chris Villarreal said. “Just for somebody to come in here and steal what he works hard for? And then shoot him after he gave up the money?”
A man who knows Tucker (pictured) told News4Jax that people have been trying to rob the store for years.
"I don't know why anyone would do this ever -- not to him," said Serge Leroy. "(It's) very scary. I've lived here for almost eight years now and it's very sad that we have people to do stuff like this."
Williams served three years in prison for armed robbery in Leon County and a 2-year sentence in Duval County for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
“This used to be a wonderful area. You could walk your dog, walk with your kids,” Villarreal said. “Now you can't even come outside without having to worry about getting shot, stabbed, hit with a bat, anything. It's sad.”
Williams is scheduled to appear in court at 9 a.m. Friday.