Police say the clerk, 29-year-old Conroy Jarman, chased the suspect, 31-year-old Raquan Jackson, out of the store on Broadhollow Road in Melville around 12:45 a.m.
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A physical altercation ensued that led to Jackson's death.
Suffolk County police Detective Lieutenant Kevin Beyer said the clerk was working alone when Jackson entered and stole a few food and drink items from an aisle and cooler.
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He fled the store, and Jarman followed and caught up with him in the parking lot.
The two got into a fight, at which point police say Jarman stabbed Jackson in the torso with a box cutter.
"The clerk and the subject got into an altercation which turned violent," Breyer said. "The subject was stabbed with a box cutter, which the clerk had in his possession which he was using at the store."
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He then returned to the 7-Eleven and called 911.
Jackson was pronounced dead at the scene by a physician assistant from the Office of the Suffolk County Medical Examiner.
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Police are still trying to determine if the clerk was threatened or if the shoplifter was armed.
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Jarman is said to be cooperating.
Police advise workers not to chase shoplifters or others who may be committing a crime.
The only other incident reported at this 7-Eleven in the past year happened August 1, when Suffolk County police arrested a man for stealing a vehicle outside of the location. The keys were inside the vehicle, and a Wyandanch man was arrested on August 2 and charged with third-degree grand larceny.
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