Carryout owner shot in leg
Victim was also wounded in a December robbery
7/23/2011Authorities say this isn’t the first time a North Toledo carryout owner has been shot in his store.
The victim, Mohammad “Mike” Abaza, was shot in the leg Friday during a robbery at Our Food Market, the store he owns in the 400 block of Streicher Street near Elm Avenue.
Mr. Abaza was shot multiple times, including twice in the face, at his store on Dec. 15.
He was one of eight witnesses who testified at Toledoan Eric Thompson’s trial in May. Thompson and a second man, Nathaniel Lee, also of Toledo, both were sentenced to prison, for 13 years and 4 years, respectively.
Authorities and neighbors — who say he is known in the area as “Streicher Mike— say they had encouraged Mr. Abaza to move on after the December incident.
“We’re not the only ones who have tried to get him moved to a different location,” Toledo Police Sergeant Stephen Zarecki said.
During Friday’s incident, Mr. Abaza suffered a non-life-threatening bullet wound to the left leg and a laceration to the neck, Sergeant Zarecki said.
Toledo Police Sgt. Patrick Skinner said a 5 foot, 6 inch black male, about 17 or 18 years old and wearing a white shirt and shorts, entered Our Food Market at about 4:40 p.m.
He shot Mr. Abaza in the leg, then went behind the counter and grabbed an undisclosed amount of money.
When Mr. Abaza attempted to block him from leaving the store, he was hit with the handgun, causing a laceration to his neck.
Mr. Abaza followed the man out the door but only made it around the corner, Sergeant Skinner said.
The man then fled east toward Lagrange Street.
Mr. Abaza was transported to Mercy St. Vincent Medical Center by ambulance.
Police continue to investigate the crime.