The incident involving a store owner with a shady past and a young thief took an unexpected turn when it was reported that Rocky David Eid, the 50-year-old convicted felon and owner of Sun Valley Dairy market, was out on bail after being arrested by Daly City PD and charged with attempted murder by San Mateo County DA. The charges stem from Eid's response to being robbed, in which he allegedly fired several shots at the fleeing perpetrators, hitting one in the neck and shoulder from 100 feet away.
Earl Bennett, 19, the young man who was allegedly shot and wounded by Eid, has also been charged with robbery by the San Mateo County DA. Bennett and another unidentified robber were accused of stealing a Rolex watch from Eid before being fired upon.
Despite the seriousness of the charges, Eid pleaded not guilty in his court appearance on Thursday, he faces felony charges of attempted murder, assault with a deadly weapon, and prohibited possession of a firearm. Given his prior felony convictions, Eid is not allowed to have a firearm.
The events leading up to the shooting are as follows: two robbers, wearing ski masks and fanny packs, entered the store and took a Rolex watch off Eid's wrist. At the time, Eid did not see any weapons on the perpetrators. As the robbers fled, Eid responded with the firepower of a semi-automatic handgun he kept under the counter, firing at least eight shots outside the market, one of which struck Bennett, according to KRON4.
After the shooting, the injured Bennett and his accomplice fled the scene in a car driven by a third person. Bennett was taken to Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital, where he is recovering from his injuries, but is expected to survive. Meanwhile, the second robber has still not been identified.
Despite the prosecution's request for no bail, San Mateo County Superior Court Judge Elizabeth Hill set bail at $750,000 for Eid, with the condition of a search and seizure to ensure Eid does not possess any deadly weapons. Eid's defense attorney, Ramsey Abboushi, informed the court that his client would be able to post the bail amount.
Video surveillance footage is being used as evidence in the case, showing the robbery and shooting. The court has ordered Eid to have no contact with Bennett, and a preliminary hearing is set for August 22 at 9 a.m.
