The Vietnamese immigrant bought a Dorchester Avenue convenience store sixteen years ago as a fixer-upper, and ever since, he has worked 12 hours a day, seven days a week, to build his business and support his family, friends say.
The 46-year-old was behind the counter on Tuesday night with his wife and young son when prosecutors say 21-year-old Jarris Charley burst inside, demanded money, grabbed cash, and then shot the storekeeper on his way out the door as his horrified family watched, police said. The bullet went through the shopkeeper’s torso, according to court documents. He survived and is expected to recover.
“It’s horrifying to think someone would shoot you in front of your child,” said Stuart Schrier, an attorney who has worked across the street from the store owner ever since he set up shop. “Even though he gave him the money, he shot him anyway.“
Charley was arrested a short time later on Savin Hill Avenue. On Wednesday, he was held on $100,000 bail after pleading not guilty to a host of charges including assault with intent to murder in Dorchester District Court.
The shooting of the clerk came in the middle of a violent eight hours in Boston that left four men wounded and one dead in four separate shootings across the city.
A man was killed and another was wounded in a shooting just after 11 p.m. on Margaretta Drive, according to a statement released Wednesday night by Boston Police.
“At this point the incident appears to be domestic in nature and not a random act,” according to the statement.
A 21-year-old man was wounded in a shooting at Humboldt Avenue and Homestead Street at 4 p.m., according to a police spokesman. Drugs were recovered in the area of the shooting, according to police.
An adult man was shot in the head at Dorchester Avenue and Richmond Street at 5 p.m., and remains in serious condition, according to police.
Authorities have not named the victim in the convenience store shooting. The man’s wife was working in the store Wednesday, but declined to speak.
Friends said the clerk worked construction as well as the counter. Maurice Bennette, who visited the store Wednesday, said the clerk was a generous person who was known for spotting customers who were short a dollar or two.
“If the kid had just talked to him, he probably would have helped him out,” said Bennette.
In court Wednesday, Charley, who was arrested based on witness descriptions and video evidence, hid behind a door.
Assistant District Attorney William Kettlewell said Charley entered D&D Convenience Store at about 7:30 p.m. wearing a distinctive stained sweatshirt and a mask, and demanded money.
“Don’t make me hurt you in front of your son,” Charley allegedly told the clerk, Kettlewell said.
Charley then went around the counter, took the money, went to leave, then shot the clerk anyway, Kettlewell said.
Police were able to use surveillance video and witness descriptions to arrest Charley a short time later on Savin Hill Avenue, Kettlewell said. Charley was wearing the same stained sweatshirt shown in the video, Kettlewell said.
“An unnecessary shooting — shooting a victim on his way out the door,” said Kettlewell. “I think Mr. Charley poses a danger to the public.”
At the time of the shooting, Charley was out on bail on charges of assault and battery and destruction of property in connection with an April 2014 incident where he allegedly threw his ex-girlfriend across a bed by her hair and threatened to shoot a man who was texting her. He also allegedly broke the woman’s cell phone, according to court documents. His bail in that matter was revoked Wednesday.
Charley’s attorney, Alyssa Thrasher Hackett, said her client was a lifelong Boston resident who works full time and supports a one-year-old child. She questioned whether police had the right man, noting that none of the proceeds from the robbery were found on him or in the house where he was arrested, and he was not wearing much of the clothing the suspect was described as wearing.
“He’s simply in the area. He’s a six foot black male, which is consistent with a large group of people,” the attorney said. “And this stain that’s on the sweatshirt, I’m not sure it’s going to be sufficiently distinctive.”
In addition to the current charges for the April incident, Charley has a juvenile record that includes charges for armed robbery while masked with a firearm, assault with a dangerous weapon, and home invasion.
There have been 47 homicides so far this year in Boston, compared with 40 at this time last year, according to police. As of Nov. 2 of this year, there had been 187 shootings, compared with 222 at the same time last year.
Laura Crimaldi of the Globe Staff contributed to this report. Evan Allen can be reached at evan.allen@globe.com. Follow her on Twitter @evanmallen.