Clerk Indicted On Gun Charges In Phillips 66 Shooting

ST. LOUIS, MO — Taleb Jawher, a former Phillips 66 gas station clerk, was indicted in federal court today for illegal possession of a firearm. The charges are related to an incident in September where Jawher falsely accused a black customer, Christopher Simmons, of shoplifting a bag of candy. After confronting Simmons, Jawher pulled a gun and fatally shot him. Police arrested Jawher, but prosecutors initially declined to bring charges, citing self defense.

The St. Louis Circuit Attorney's Office quickly reversed itself, and Jawher was charged with first degree murder when the investigation revealed Simmons did not steal anything and was shot in the back of the head as he walked to his car.

Jawher overstayed his visa after entering the country legally from Jordan in 2007, and is also accused of providing fraudulent documentation to immigration and customs officials.

If convicted of the firearms charges, Jawher faces up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. A trial date has not been set.

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