A Daly City business owner is facing attempted murder charges when he allegedly shot a robber in the neck while the robber was trying to escape from the store.
Rocky David Eid, 51, of Daly City, appeared in a San Mateo County courtroom on Wednesday for the first day of his preliminary hearing.
Eid is the owner of Sun Valley Dairy Market on Schwerin Street.
According to the District Attorney’s Office, on June 20, at around 12:30 p.m., Eid was working the market’s front counter when two young men walked in with fanny packs and ski masks.
One of the robbers told Eid to not move or “I’ll smoke you.”
A robber grabbed a Rolex watch from Eid’s wrist before the two of them ran out of the store.
Eid grabbed a semi-automatic handgun from under the counter, walked out of the store, and fired eight shots at the fleeing robbers.
One of the robbers, a 19-year-old from San Francisco, was hit by bullets in the neck and shoulders.
Prosecutors said the two robbers jumped into a getaway car and fled.
The injured teenager showed up at San Francisco General Hospital where he was treated for gunshot wounds.
The DA’s Office wrote that Eid later told police, “He did not see any weapons with the robbers but was worried they might return, and wanted to scare them away.”
The entire robbery and shooting were recorded by surveillance video cameras. During their investigation, police were unable to identify the uninjured robber or the getaway driver.
Eid is a convicted felon who cannot lawfully possess a firearm, according to the DA’s Office.
Prosecutors charged Eid with two counts of attempted murder, two counts of assault with a firearm, one count of possession of a firearm by a felon, and one count of possession of ammunition by a felon.
If convicted, Eid could face a life prison sentence.
A Change.org petition launched by a group dubbed “Team Rocky,” has racked up more than 3,000 signatures. The petition states, “Self defense is not a crime,” and urges the district attorney to drop all charges.
The petition continues, “A innocent hard working store owner that was robbed and threatened is now facing (two) attempted murder charges and other serious charges for protecting his life and property. What kind of message is that sending to the criminals. That’s why there is so many robberies, violence, and killing going on in this world today because criminals have more rights than the victims.”
Once the preliminary hearing concludes, Judge Kevin Dunleavy will decide whether prosecutors have enough evidence to put Eid on trial for attempted murder. Eid has remained out of custody in lieu of $750,000 bail. The court ordered him against possessing any deadly weapons, including firearms.
