District Attorney Erleigh Norville Wiley announced today that 22-year-old JAMARCO JAKEITH BLANTON has been sentenced to life without parole in the Texas penitentiary for the offense of capital murder, following a two-day trial before the Honorable Judge Shelton Gibbs in the 422nd District Court of Kaufman County. Judge Gibbs pronounced sentence after a Kaufman County jury found Blanton guilty of capital murder for the May 12, 2023, killing of 82-year-old Terrell convenience store owner Fahed Fatayri, lovingly known in the community as “Pops.”
Evidence in trial showed that Blanton, a Dallas resident, traveled with two acquaintances to Terrell late on the night of May 12, 2023, stopping at Mom & Pops gas station at 402 S. Virginia. Once they arrived at Pops store, surveillance captured the incident. The footage showed that when the store was emptied of other customers, Blanton who had been loitering in the store, stole an item off the shelf and stuffed it in his pocket. Mr. Fatayri could see he didn’t pay for the item. Once confronted about payment, Blanton shoved the 82-year-old on his way toward the store’s exit. The surveillance video then shows both Mr. Fatayri and Blanton produced weapons, and that Blanton shot Mr. Fatayri in the chest using a handgun with an extended magazine. The female that was with the group stayed to render aid to Mr. Fatayri, while the males left the store. Blanton fled on foot, concealed evidence near the Dollar General store on S. Virginia and was apprehended minutes later at the intersection of Newton and S. Adelaide by Terrell Police Department officers.
At the conclusion of the State’s case, the jury found Blanton guilty of the offense of capital murder. Referencing the jury’s verdict, Loris Fatayri, the victim’s daughter, has stated, “Finally, Dad, known as Pops, got justice today. It was hard, and so much sadness for Mom and me. The killer was sentenced to life without the chance of parole. Thank you…for working so hard to get justice for a loving, good man. …. Our loving Pops will forever be with us and the communities who loved him.”
The victim in this case, Fahed Fatayri, known as Pops to his loyal customers, had owned the gas station in Terrell for decades, alongside his wife of 58 years, Itidal Fatayri (known as “Mom”). Mom and Pops were beloved in the Terrell community for their generosity and familiarity with locals in the neighborhood. Many stories surfaced during the course of this investigation about Pops helping people from offering free drinks to police officers who stopped by the store, to opening lines of credit for those he knew who were having a hard time financially. He was described repeatedly as “a real nice guy” who “didn’t deserve this.” Justice has been served not only for Pops and his family, but also for the community who loved him. The prosecution was led by Assistant Criminal District Attorneys Robyn Beckham, Marc Moffitt, and Hillary Heisel; Paralegal Kristen Tucker; Investigators Mike Holley, Wayne Watson, Walter Hughey, Nate Hauger, Sandra Ortiz, and Austin Jones; and Victim Assistance Coordinator Shirley Bruner. The District Attorney’s Office would like to thank the Terrell Police Department, and in particular Detective Zachary Boyd, for their tireless and dedicated work in this case.
District Attorney Erleigh Wiley says, “The Kaufman County District Attorney’s Office wants to thank the jurors in this case for delivering justice for this family and community. We know the emotional toll that a case like this takes on a jury, and we appreciate your service more than we can express. Through your verdict, we have been able to send a message to those who would commit crimes in our community: Think Twice. Kaufman County is serious about punishing violent crime.”
- Log in or Subscribe to post comments.