New Hampshire Union Leader
By MARK HAYWARD
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
It was only after he struck the robber that Sharif Abdi, owner of Juba Market, felt the pepper spray in his eyes. He went home and showered for an hour, hoping to shake the sting, if not the the memory, of the confrontation.
"I fear for the future," said Abdi, 42, who grew up in Somalia and has lived in Manchester for four years. "This is my second time (being robbed). The third time, maybe I don't know what will happen. The money is nothing. Life is very important."
Manchester police Lt. Jim Soucy reported that a white male in his mid-20s attempted to rob the store. A witness in the store corroborated Abdi's account of the incident, Soucy said.
Abdi opened Juba Market about five months ago. Aisles are stacked with bags of corn meal and rice as well as 12-packs of Mountain Dew. Shelves run the gamet from dried fish to Frosted Flakes.
Abdi said the man entered the store and asked if two customers were employees. No, Abdi answered, and asked the man what he wanted. He asked about spices and left.
Once the two customers departed, the man returned, went behind the counter, sprayed and started shouting "bring the money," he said. Abdi's back was turned, so he didn't feel the sting until he swung the chair.
Police said the robber was about 5-foot, 6-inches tall and weighed 150 pounds. He had short black hair with razor cuts along the edge of his hairline. He wore a white T-shirt with green horizontal stripes and tan khaki shorts.
Source: New Hampshire Union Leader