Three arrested in shooting death of store owner

  • Posted: Thursday, December 13, 2012 12:01 a.m.
    UPDATED: Thursday, December 13, 2012 7:29 a.m.
A surveillance photo shows a gunman inside the Z&H Mart on Mooresville Road on Monday, Dec. 10. The owner of the store, Hecham Abualeinan, was shot to death during the robbery.
A surveillance photo shows a gunman inside the Z&H Mart on Mooresville Road on Monday, Dec. 10. The owner of the store, Hecham Abualeinan, was shot to death during the robbery.

SALISBURY — Detectives arrested three Salisbury men Wednesday morning in the murder of a Mooresville Road business owner.

Authorities charged 33-year-old Maurice Robinson and 20-year-old Kevin Lamont Canzator with felony armed robbery and first-degree murder. Following their arrests, deputies arrested 23-year-old Christopher Lee Watson, believed to be the gunman who shot and killed Z & H Mart owner Hecham Abualeinan.


Investigators said Robinson, of East Fisher Street, and Canzator, of East Bank Street, were in the store just moments before Watson entered.

Surveillance camera footage showed Watson shoot and kill Abualeinan, detectives said, then cross over the 59-year-old’s body and empty the cash register.

All three men were placed in Rowan County jail under no bond.

Detectives said they were able to get leads on the case after releasing screen shots of Robinson and Canzator leaving the store about 9:30 p.m. Monday night.

Authorities believe Watson rode to the store with Robinson and Canzator.

Salisbury Police and the State Bureau of Investigation assisted deputies in the case, but the investigation remains open.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Lt. Chad Moose at 704-216-8687 or Det. Christine Wood at 704-216-8715.

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