Prosecutor says people who rob stores ‘should expect to be shot’

An Ohio prosecutor has indicted a smoke shop manager for allegedly shooting to death a 16-year-old boy during a robbery attempt – but warned that people “should expect to be shot” if they target stores.

Hamilton County Prosecutor Melissa Powers filed the charges against the manager, Tony Thacker, 29, for allegedly shooting at would-be robbers as they fled VIP Smoke Shop in Delhi Township on Oct. 20, the Cincinnati Enquirer reported.

“There is simply no justification for shooting at someone as they are running away,” Powers said in a statement.

“However, I want to make perfectly clear – these retail thefts will not be tolerated. If you try to rob a store, you should expect to be shot,” she added.

Thacker was inside the store when several people threw rocks through the front window to gain entry.

Thacker, who lived in the back of the business, went to investigate when he heard the glass break and encountered 16-year-old Travis Johnson and 19-year-old Amontae Carter, according to the outlet.

The manager, who is not permitted to own firearms due to an adjudication for a felony crime he received as a juvenile, allegedly gunned down Johnson and kept firing at the other suspects as they tried to flee in stolen cars, the Hamilton County Prosecutor’s Office said.

Carter was reportedly struck in one of the vehicles.

Thacker and his brother, Malachi 21, tried to disable the store’s security system and remove shell casings from the scene, the Enquirer reported.

On Friday, the manager was indicted on charges of felonious assault, tampering with evidence and illegal possession of a firearm. His brother was charged with tampering with evidence.

Carter has been indicted on charges of murder, burglary and possession of criminal tools. If convicted on all charges, he faces life behind bars with eligibility for parole after 15 years.

Three other suspects, two males and a female, also were arrested.

Although none of them shot Johnson themselves, the three face murder and burglary charges.

The 15-year-old boy also was charged with auto theft charge, while the 16-year-old girl and 17-year-old boy face charges of receiving stolen property.

Two people called 911 about the shooting, WCPO reported.

The first said she heard a woman screaming and the second identified himself as the owner of the shop.

“Do you know who shot him?” the 911 dispatcher asked.

“My worker. He was protecting himself, the guy broke in the store,” the man replied, according to the outlet.

Johnson’s brother, 20-year-old Isaiah Johnson, was charged with felonious assault after he allegedly shot a woman at a vigil for the 16-year-old, WCPO reported.