Person Charged With Capital Murder in Death of 7-Eleven Clerk

Police arrested and charged an 18-year-old man with capital murder in connection with the death of a clerk at a Garland 7-Eleven.

The Garland Police Department received information on Wednesday connected to the robbery of a 7-Eleven that led to the shooting death of 31-year-old Yosef Tulu.

Based on that information, police issued a search warrant in the 2900 block of Creek Valley Drive.

Colten Jon Moore, 18, was taken into custody and charged with capital murder in the death of Tulu.

According to police, a call came in at 3:35 a.m. Tuesday after a delivery man discovered the clerk's body behind the counter of the 7-Eleven location at 2509 Firewheel Parkway.

Video recovered from store surveillance cameras show the robber was wearing a mask or bag and carrying a rifle with a scope as he entered the store.  

Tulu was robbed and fatally shot.

Police said Moore, in a hunting mask, held up the store clerk with a small scope rifle. Moore shot the clerk twice, killing him, according to police.

“The gun we think is murder weapon, was recovered inside his home,” said Garland police officer Joe Harn.

Moore's bond is set at $1 million. Moore’s family told NBC 5 there was no comment and that the family was grieving.

Tulu worked at two stores. He was studying nursing and hoping to marry his fiancé in April. She is in Ethiopia right now, and like Tulu’s parents, still hasn’t been informed of his murder. His relatives locally tell NBC 5, they want his body to arrive in Ethiopia first, which is expected to happen on Monday.

“It was really bad, really sad,” said Andualem Shoro, Tulu's brother-in-law. 

Tulu's family has set up a fund to benefit family members in this time of loss. Contributions can be made at any Chase bank or by phone by stating you want to donate to the "Yosef Tulu Family Fund."

NBC 5's Ray Villeda contributed to this report.

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