Suspect identified, charged in Roxbury convenience store robbery, shooting
Tanjim Siam, the clerk shot during the alleged robbery, remains on life support.
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The gunman who allegedly left a Roxbury convenience store clerk for dead after robbing the place has been identified and charged.
Stephon Samuel, 25, of Lynn, is being charged with attempted murder, armed robbery with a firearm, possession of a firearm, possession of ammunition, and level 1 armed career criminal via a warrant. Samuel was already being held in the Plymouth County House of Corrections on different charges, according to a news release from the Suffolk District Attorney’s Office.
On July 14, M&R convenience store on Shawmut Avenue in Roxbury was allegedly robbed and Tanjim Siam, who was working as a clerk at the store at the time, complied with the robber’s orders.
“That was not enough for Mr. Samuel; he took Tanjim into a different part of the store and attempted to execute him,’’ District Attorney Rachael Rollins said in the release. “Mr. Siam survived and is clinging to life as we speak. He is a fighter and we are hoping for his full recovery. My heart goes out to his family. I hope that holding Mr. Samuel responsible for his brazen violence, which we fully intend to do, brings the Siam family some small amount of solace.’’
For several weeks, Siam, 21, who had just moved to Boston from Bangladesh and began working at the store just four months ago, has remained in a coma. Siam’s parents and two brothers have arrived in Boston after a 30-hour flight from Bangladesh. The family’s travel was complicated by the coronavirus pandemic.
Malini Basu, a journalist with Boston 25, has followed the family’s progress in attempting to secure passports and the necessary visas to travel to be by his bedside. The news station reported that Siam had come to the United States with hope of earning an education. He also would send money he earned at the store back to his family.
On Thursday, Basu reported that doctors told Siam’s family he isn’t expected to survive his injuries.
Last night,I met with Tanjim Siam’s Mom.We have been FaceTiming from Bangladesh for the last 3 weeks.When we spoke today, mom sounds like she is TRYING hard to find strength,&come to terms w/ reality. Her 25y/o son is on life support,&writing the rest of this sentence is painful. pic.twitter.com/8T5Iopth8M
— Malini Basu (@MaliniBasu_) August 7, 2020
Boston Police say 25y/o Stephon Samuel shot Tanjim Siam in the head during a robbery. Siam’s family from Bangladesh got the news, he will not survive. Police say, Samuel is an armed career criminal. I talked to Siam’s mom an hour ago, she is numb & speechless. pic.twitter.com/lWz6lMJL3O
— Malini Basu (@MaliniBasu_) August 7, 2020
A GoFundMe remains ongoing for Siam and his family. As of Saturday morning, it had raised nearly $74,000 with a current goal of $100,000.
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