MEMPHIS, TN – Shelby County District Attorney Bill Gibbons announced Tuesday that the state Grand Jury for Shelby County has indicted two teenagers for the murder of a convenience store owner during an attempted robbery last August.

The Grand Jury indicted Nicholas Fletcher, 18, and Lamario Hill, 17, each for first degree murder, attempted especially aggravated robbery, and aggravated assault. Fletcher was 17 years old at the time of the incident.  At the request of the District Attorney’s Office, both defendants were transferred last September from Juvenile Court to Criminal Court to be tried as adults. Each is being held at the Shelby County Jail without bond.

The victim, Ali Alothmani, was shot and killed during an attempted robbery on August 23 at his store, the Linc Mini Mart located at 2638 Southern Avenue.

The maximum penalty for a juvenile convicted of first degree murder in Tennessee is life in prison with parole after 51 years. The charge of first degree murder is covered under the D.A.’s “No Deals” policy on violent crimes, which also applies to juveniles.

Attempted especially aggravated robbery is a class B felony, which carries a standard sentence of eight to 12 years in prison.  Aggravated assault is a class C felony, which carries a standard sentence of three to six years in prison.

It is the policy of the District Attorney’s Office to request that juveniles who are 16 or 17 years old be transferred to Criminal Court if they are charged with committing a violent crime.  The D.A.’s Office also carefully reviews cases in which a juvenile under 16 is charged with committing a violent crime to determine if a request to transfer the juvenile is appropriate.