DEERFIELD BEACH, Fla. – Two employees at a Deerfield Beach convenience store are speaking about the moment they said they were forced to shoot an armed robber.
Hamam Alfala, 24, told Local 10 News that he is still shaken up after the Friday night robbery.
"I shoot him first. It's my life," he said.
Broward sheriff's deputies were called to the Snappy Convenience Store at 115 SE 10th St. in Deerfield Beach about 7:40 p.m. Friday.
Alfala said he and two other store clerks were helping a customer when a man, whom BSO identified as Raymond Prescott, entered the store, pointed a gun at them and demanded money.
Alfala said Prescott fired his gun, which narrowly missed him and hit the window behind the counter.
Alfala grabbed a gun under the counter and shot Prescott. He said he doesn't remember how many shots were fired, but knew that he had to defend himself.
"I take the gun, I shoot then duck ... Shoot, shoot," Alfala said.
"He said, 'Dexter, get on the ground.' (We were) firing back and forth," employee Dexter Leon said.
Leon was also behind the counter during the attempted robbery.
After throwing himself onto the floor, he too grabbed one of the guns under the counter and started shooting.
"The only thing I thought of was my son. It was scary," Leon said.
Prescott was pronounced dead at the scene.
A similar incident was reported at the same convenience store in March 2010.
Detectives said a robber walked in and pointed a gun at the store clerk, who grabbed his gun and fired it.
That robber survived his injuries and was arrested.
Alfala, who moved to the U.S. six months ago, is hoping that he never has to do it again, but said he won't hesitate if his life is put in danger.
"I'm ready .... any time," Alfala said.
Detectives said they believe that Prescott was involved in similar crimes in Palm Beach and Broward counties. He also had a criminal history of drug trafficking and was on probation.