Clerks’ Attacker Gets 6 Months

A San Fernando man who attacked two convenience store clerks who suspected him of stealing beer was sentenced Friday to six months in jail, a deputy Los Angeles city attorney said.

Van Nuys Municipal Judge Karl Jaeger gave Tariq Saleem Azikiwe, 18, until next Friday to surrender to begin serving the sentence, prosecutor Elizabeth Barrera-Reny said.

A jury deliberated about two hours before finding Azikiwe guilty of battery, but he was acquitted of attempted petty theft, the prosecutor said.

The charges were based on an incident Feb. 5, when Azikiwe entered a 7-Eleven store in the 11100 block of Burbank Boulevard in North Hollywood and approached the beer cooler, Barrera-Reny said.

The two clerks told police they asked Azikiwe for identification because they suspected him of being the same thief who stole beer from their store on two prior occasions.

Azikiwe then attacked the clerks, punching one in the chest, Barrera-Reny said. Azikiwe tried to flee, but the two clerks managed to hold him until police arrived, she said.