Drive-by victims relate terror
Court in Sikh-killing trial hears bullet-riddled tales
Jim Walsh
The Arizona Republic
Sept. 4, 2003 12:00 AM
Two victims of Mesa drive-by shootings that closely followed the slaying of a Sikh gas station owner described their brushes with death Wednesday in a packed courtroom.
The second day of Frank Roque's death-penalty trial spoke volumes about the fear created by the 15-minute shooting spree on Sept. 15, 2001, five days after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
Ali Rkein, 21, a Lebanese immigrant who works part time at a Blimpie sandwich shop inside a Mobil gas station at Broadway Road and Val Vista Drive, testified he was eating in a back room when he heard gunshots.
Rkein said he quickly discovered that someone had riddled a window facing the gas pumps with bullets and that the cashier, Anwar Khalil, was uninjured but distraught.
"Anwar was just screaming. He was crying. He was saying, 'Oh my God, thank the Lord,' then he was cussing. He got down on the ground. It was an emotional time," said Rkein, an Arizona State University student. "He didn't understand why someone would do him harm. He was just working there."
Ahmad Yar Sahak, also of Mesa, an immigrant from Afghanistan, testified that he bought his house from Roque in 1998. Shortly before 3 p.m., Sahak said, he was about to open his front door when he heard three gunshots.
Sahak said he pushed aside a window curtain and saw a man, whom he later identified as Roque, putting away his gun with the muzzle still smoking. No one was injured.
Prosecutor Vince Imbordino is seeking the death penalty, saying Roque, 44, fatally shot Balbir Singh Sodhi, 49, out of hatred and anger.
Defense attorney Dan Patterson is pursuing a guilty-but-insane defense, saying Roque is mentally ill and heard voices telling him to "shoot the devil."
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