Murder defendant admits guilt during trial
Instead of having jurors decide his fate, a 19-year-old man admitted he fatally shot an unarmed Midwest City convenience store clerk during a $200 robbery.
Samuel Edward Myers pleaded guilty Wednesday to first-degree murder in the Sept. 17, 2016, shooting of Salman “Sam” Tahir, a wellliked clerk at GI’s Market, 10001 NE 10. His admission came after a week of testimony in his murder trial.
Myers, of Jones, also pleaded guilty to robbery with a firearm. He stole about $200 from the register before shooting Tahir in the back, police reported. Video of the robbery was presented to the jury.
As part of a plea agreement, Myers was sentenced to 36 years in prison. After release, Myers will be on probation for life.
Before pleading guilty, Myers claimed he wasn’t involved in the robbery or shooting. Had Myers not entered a guilty plea, Oklahoma County jurors would have heard closing arguments and deliberated Wednesday.
Tahir’s older brother, Nouman Chaudhry, said he was pleased with the plea agreement.
“It will give everybody peace,” Chaudhry told The Oklahoman outside the courtroom. “You can never say the word ‘closure’ ... but it’s better than a hung jury or actually seeing him getting freed.”
Chaudhry, 40, of Atlanta, said more than 3,000 attended Tahir’s funeral in Pakistan.
“That number says a lot,” Chaudhry said. “He was loved because of his character and because of his good behavior to people.”
He also said Tahir, 33, was well-mannered and respected everyone he met. Chaudhry said their mother raised them right.
Tahir’s widow and young daughter were unable to attend the trial, Chaudhry said.
“I hope and I wish and I pray that somehow they find peace with it and move on with life,” he said. “We all are going to miss him.”
To honor Tahir, GI’s Market has since changed its name to Sam’s Corner Market.
During the sentencing, defense attorney Jacob Benedict expressed “deepest apologies” from Myers.
The case was prosecuted by District Attorney David Prater and Assistant District Attorney Lori McConnell.
The fatal robbery
Store surveillance cameras recorded video of the robbery and shooting from multipleangles, which was shown to the jurors. Myers entered the store that morning wearing a hoodie. At the time, Myers was 17 and had dreadlocks.
While in the store, Myers bought a cigarette and smoked it in the store. At one point, after chatting briefly with Tahir, Myers pulled a handgun from his waistband.
Tahir then put both hands up and backed away as Myers pointed the gun at him. While
being held at gunpoint, Tahir opened the register and Myers grabbed the money out of the drawer.
Immediately after taking the money, Myers shot Tahir in the back. Tahir had his hands up and had fully complied with Myers.
After falling to the floor,
Tahir tried to pull himself up before again collapsing on his back. He died after being taken to a hospital, police reported.
That same day, Myers reportedly flashed cash at a friend’s house. The pistol used in the shooting later was found at that house, police reported.
Myers’ DNA linked him to the live rounds taken from the gun and a lighter touched by the robber inside the store, records show.
Myers also pleaded guilty Wednesday in a separate assault case related to a stabbing in the Oklahoma County jail.