Shootout at Sam's Place

Illegal Alien Learns a Lesson

By Robert A. Waters

At 7:49 p.m., on December 3, 2024, Teony Umanzor-Juarez (pictured) and his cohort, Cecil Batiz, sauntered into a modest New Orleans convenience store. Sam's Meat Market was located in the 8400 block of South I-10 Service Road. In just a few seconds, surveillance video captured a gun battle.

Juarez and Batiz both carried handguns. One, a Glock semiautomatic, had been stolen from the trunk of a NOPD officer's car.

The video shows the robbers pointing a gun at the face of the clerk who was seated in front of the cash register. The clerk opens the cash drawer and lays money on the counter. Catiz stuffs the cash into his pant's pocket. His semiautomatic handgun has an extended magazine. Juarez, also armed, provides lookout near the front of the counter. Store manager Diaa Hamed, who provided footage to Fox 8 News, said, "They came in and like, 'money, money, money, money.' That's all they say."

After obtaining the cash, the robbers begin to walk toward the door. Then they turn back and move closer to the clerk. At that time, the unnamed clerk lays out a barrage of fire at the intruders. Cadiz, mere feet from the clerk, falls as Juarez turns and fires one round at the clerk. Juarez, hit in the forearm, races outside.

Cadiz, lying on the floor, seems to be trying to manipulate his gun so he can shoot it, but the clerk is quicker and fires two more rounds, killing him. There had been one customer in the store--he was unhurt.

 

Hamed told Fox 8 that the clerk "was really scared, that's why they use their guns. We all carry guns but we hope not to use it, But in this situation, we have to."

Several of the news outlets reporting on the shooting claimed the robbers were leaving the store. It's plain to see them start toward the door, then turn back around and face the clerk. That is when the clerk opens fire.

Juarez was quickly captured. After being treated at the hospital, he was booked and initially charged with four counts: armed robbery, armed robbery with a gun, aggravated assault with a firearm, and illegal use of a weapon. A few hours later, he was also charged with manslaughter.

Gabriella Killet wrote, "On his booking paperwork, Juarez told authorities he was a U. S. citizen. An ICE spokesperson said earlier that Juarez is a Honduran national who illegally crossed the U. S. border in Texas in April of 2023 when he was a minor." The exact date and place of Juarez's illegal entry was Eagle Pass on April 14, 2023.

He will be charged with all crimes he committed in Louisiana and Texas, as well as an outstanding warrant in New York. After serving his time in America, he will be deported. Louisiana Attorney General Liz said, "Multiple crimes in multiple states. It shouldn't take TV coverage for ICE to decide they're going to do their job. He never should have been in this country."

The store clerk was not charged with any crime.