Man shot moments after leaving store

STOCKTON - A 45-year-old Latino man was shot Tuesday seconds after leaving a Stockton convenience store, where he had spent more than 30 minutes conversing with customers while playing lottery scratchers, police and witnesses said.

The man told witnesses he was waiting for a ride before leaving the R&P convenience store in the 300 block of South San Joaquin Street shortly after 7 p.m. Less than a minute later, he re-entered the store complaining of a gunshot wound to the back before slumping over a freezer unit near the front counter, witnesses said.

"He went out the door and then 'boom, boom, boom,' " said Lalonnie Mack, a 38-year-old Stockton resident who was inside the store at the time of the shooting. "He came back in the store and said, 'I got shot in my back.' "

The victim's gray, bloodstained T-shirt and small drops of blood remained on a freezer containing ice cream bars after he was rushed to a hospital, where he was listed in stable condition with non-life-threatening injuries, police said.

The victim told police he did not see his assailant.

"He said he heard shots but didn't see who the shooter was," police Lt. Lee Kissell said. "He said he was just minding his own business, heard shots and felt pain in his back."

Police believe the shooting occurred down the street from the convenience store near the intersection of South San Joaquin and East Sonora streets.

Store owner Frank Ali said another man was shot outside his store about a week ago.

"There is so much crime here," he said. "They have to do something about this."

Mike Billings, a resident of a nearby apartment building, identified himself as the victim's roommate. Billings said the victim's first name is Richard but he doesn't know his last name, adding they met two months ago when they became roommates.

"I couldn't believe he got shot," Billings said. "I've been shot before, too, so I kind of understand, but I don't know why someone would shoot Richard unless there's someone out here picking people off randomly."


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