Cops searching for store clerk killer

Cathy Scott

Thursday, March 12, 1998 | 10:04 a.m.

A 7-Eleven convenience store clerk was shot to death late Wednesday as he escorted an underage male out of the store who tried to buy beer without proper identification, Metro Police said.

Maurice Miller, 33, was dead at the scene.

The suspects were still at large today, police said.

About 10:50 p.m., the suspect walked up to Miller, who was working behind the counter, and tried to buy a 12-pack of beer, homicide Lt. Wayne Petersen said.

The clerk "carded him" by asking for identification, Petersen said. When the suspect couldn't produce it, he left the store, at 4158 Koval Lane just south of Flamingo Road, he said.

A few minutes later, the suspect returned, and Miller escorted him out the door, Petersen said.

Video surveillance shows Miller escorting a male out of the store just before the shooting, Petersen said.

"This male became abusive and started fighting with the clerk outside the door to the business," he said.

A second suspect intervened in front of the door by pulling a weapon and firing two shots at the clerk, he said.

Miller was hit at least once in the chest and collapsed in the doorway, Petersen said today. Paramedics arrived and pronounced him dead.

One suspect fled on foot, and the other in a car, police said.

Witnesses told detectives that the suspects were in their late teens or early 20s and had regularly frequented the store in the past.

"Detectives have other information on the identity of the suspects and are attempting to locate them now," Petersen said. "We have real good information and good leads to follow. I believe we'll be able to identify these guys. There were several witnesses who had seen the two before, and they were known to live in the area.

"At this point, it's a matter of confirming their identities and locating them. If we're able to locate them today or tomorrow, we'll do a probable cause arrest."