LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The co-owner of a convenience store in the Portland neighborhood has been charged in connection with a deadly shooting on May 31, according to Louisville Metro Police (LMPD). Safwat Ballasi, one of the owners of 2 Brothers Market on North 28th Street, was arrested Monday afternoon.
According to an arrest citation, LMPD officers arrived at 2 Brothers Market just before 1 a.m. on May 31 to investigate a report of a shooting. When they arrived, they found a man who had been shot and critically injured. He was taken to the hospital where he later died.
The Jefferson County Coroner's Office has identified the man as 36-year-old Jonathan Dupin.
The citation says Ballasi was at the store when officers arrived. He told police that he had been in his office when the shooting happened but didn't see anything. He also said the store's surveillance system wasn't working.
During their investigation, officers found the store's surveillance video recorder. It had been unplugged, but they were still able to watch the most recent recording.
According to police, the video showed both Ballasi and Dupin inside the store. In the video, Ballasi "manipulates" a handgun multiple times before firing a shot, hitting Dupin.
The video also showed Ballasi walk up to the surveillance video recorder before the recording ended.
Police said they did not find the gun or spent casing at the scene.
Ballasi has been charged with reckless homicide and tampering with physical evidence. His bond is currently set at $500,000.
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