DALLAS, TX – A Dallas woman has been charged with capital murder after fatally shooting a convenience store clerk during a dispute over a bottle of water. Aleigha Horn, 29, was arrested after fleeing the scene of the July 8 incident that occurred at A&A Mart on Marsalis Avenue in North Oak Cliff.
The altercation, captured on store surveillance footage, escalated after Horn placed a water bottle on the counter. The video shows Horn drawing a handgun and shooting the cashier, 52-year-old Inayath Syed, in the neck before she exited with the water.
Syed, who was critically injured, was quickly attended by responding officers and his coworkers but succumbed to his injuries on Monday. Witnesses and officers pursued Horn and apprehended her in a nearby wooded area. A loaded handgun was recovered near the arrest site.
Before this, Horn was already sought by police for a related incident on July 5, where she allegedly shot a man after her gun initially jammed during an attempted assault at a residence. This victim survived, and police noted that synthetic marijuana was retrieved at the scene.
Horn, who has prior offenses including drug possession and driving under the influence, was initially charged with aggravated robbery but now faces capital murder charges following Syed’s death. Her bond has been set at $1,000,000.
A GoFundMe page has been established for Syed’s family, detailing the financial burdens they face as he was the primary provider for his wife and two young children.
This ongoing investigation continues to distress the local community, with residents describing Syed as a dedicated and caring individual deeply committed to his work and community safety.