Thursday evening Mike Dayem was in a battle for his life.  A masked man entered Mike’s Food Market on Cleveland’s east-side with a gun and demanded money.  When Mike’s 19 year-old son, Abe, who also works at the store, gave the robber everything in the cash register, the robber said it wasn’t enough and demanded more.  Then the robber shot Abe in the head.

That is when Mike grabbed his own gun and returned fire, striking the robber in the neck and chest.  The robber fled from the store, leaving the money. Cleveland Police found the robber on the sidewalk about a block away.  He was declared dead about 30 minutes later.  Police and the Cuyahoga County Coroner’s office are still trying to determine the robber’s identity.

Abe was taken to Metro Health Medical Center where he is being treated.  Abe is conscious and talking, albeit with the bullet still in his head.  He may be released as soon as Saturday.

Mike does not want his son to return to the store, while Abe would prefer that his father not have to go back to store.  This evening, Mike is back running his store.  The front window, display cases, and even lottery tickets were riddled with bullet holes.  But Mike, who has seven mouths to feed, can’t afford to not have the store open.

Police have not said if any charges will be brought and the matter is still under investigation.  However, several similar incidents at other small stores in the Cleveland area have not resulted in store owners or employees being charged.  OFCC expects this will similarly be ruled justifiable.

OFCC has verified that Mike is a CHL holder.  It is extremely ironic that following a previous robbery several months ago, it was Abe who urged his father to get a gun and become licensed.  Mike received his CHL in January of this year.

Local news has followed the story, with video:

http://www.wkyc.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=51806

http://www.wkyc.com/video/player.aspx?aid=22799&bw=