A Tennessee man accused of killing Indian-origin grocery store owner Suresh Patel during a robbery in Jackson is also facing the death penalty in connection with the fatal shooting of a Bangladeshi immigrant at a gas station.
Corey Houge was brought before the court on Wednesday in Crockett County Circuit Court, where District Attorney Frederick Agee told Judge Clayburn Peeples that prosecutors intend to seek the death penalty against him in the case involving the shooting death of 36-year-old Shahed Rana Mohsin.
Mohsin, a Bangladeshi immigrant who worked at a gas station, was reportedly shot on August 23 during an attempted robbery while he was observing Tahajjud, an Islamic night prayer.
Houge faces charges including first-degree murder, first-degree murder in the perpetration of a felony, especially aggravated robbery, four counts of employing a firearm during the commission of a dangerous felony, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
Patel killed during grocery store robbery
The Jackson Police Department said that shortly before 9 p.m. on August 20, a masked gunman entered Ridgecrest Cellars at 2880 Ridgecrest Road and demanded money from three employees.
Police said the employees complied with the robber’s demands and handed over the money without resistance. Despite this, the suspect allegedly opened fire before fleeing the store. Patel was fatally shot and later pronounced dead.
Investigators reviewed surveillance footage and used Flock vehicle-recognition technology to identify a Buick Lucerne as a potential suspect vehicle. Corey Houge was subsequently identified as a person of interest in the case.
On Sunday, investigators from the Jackson Police Department, FBI and ATF located Houge driving the Buick Lucerne near Lawrence Switch Road and Highway 70 in Jackson.
According to police, officers attempted to stop the vehicle, but Houge allegedly fled at a high rate of speed. The pursuit ended when he crashed near a Burger King on Christmasville Road. Police said he then attempted to carjack a customer.
In Madison County, Houge faces charges of first-degree premeditated murder, first-degree murder in the perpetration of a felony, especially aggravated robbery, multiple counts of employing a firearm during the commission of a dangerous felony with a prior felony conviction, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
The two fatal shootings have prompted separate criminal proceedings, with prosecutors now seeking the death penalty in connection with Mohsin’s killing.
