Gas Mart Workers Charged With Assault, Owners Apologize

ST. LOUIS, MO — Jehad Motan, 32, and Ahmed Qandeel, 19, have been charged with assault after video posted to Facebook Tuesday showed them kicking a woman outside the Gas Mart where they worked.

The video shows the woman, identified as 37-year-old Kelli Adams, yelling at Qandeel, using racial slurs and other obscene language. Motan, the store's manager, then comes out and demands that Adams leave. She seems to be complying when Motan kicks her to the ground.

Adams then gets up and refuses to leave. The men return to the store and tell her they are calling police. Qandeel then comes back out and approaches her. Both exchange derogatory remarks, and the worker kicks Adams again.

Watch the video below. Warning: it contains objectionable language, racial slurs and violence.

The incident happened around 1:30 p.m. Tuesday at Northside Oil on Delmar Boulevard in the West End. It's not clear what started the altercation. Witnesses say Adams often frequents the store and that she may be homeless.

Protesters gathered outside the gas station and convenience store later the same day, promising to shut it down. As many as 100 people blocked the store's entrance, chanting and using cars to also block access to the gas pumps.

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"If we wouldn't have come here, the police wouldn't have shown up," said Rev. Darryl Gray, who helped organize the protest. He said police didn't show up until protesters began blocking the entrance to the store, adding: "The police are here to protect and serve, but it is pretty clear who they choose to protect."

The owners of the gas station have apologized, both in person and in a written statement.

“On behalf of the entire Gas Mart family, we want to extend our sincerest apologies for the negative experience that has occurred at our location 5745 Delmar Blvd,” they said. “Gas Mart does NOT condone this kind of behavior nor is it tolerated. We will take all the appropriate measures needed to assure an incident like this does not happen again. Encounters of violence will not be tolerated in ANY capacity at any of our locations.”

Protesters, though, have said they plan to continue for at least another day.