Escambia County, Florida – Authorities said a man carrying a shotgun and claiming to be from Chicago walked into a Florida convenience store. During an attempted robbery but fled when a clerk displayed his weapon.
Rakim Stephen Tate, 32, made a wrong decision that “became a worse decision”. When he walked into a convenience store with a visible shotgun to his side on September 9, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
He is accused of openly carrying a prohibited weapon. Attempting to commit robbery with a firearm.
According to security footage. Tate walked around the store for a few seconds before a store clerk was heard talking to him, a store camera. According to authorities, the clerk noticed Tate arming himself before entering the store. The clerk noticed and entered a back room to take his weapon.
“I don’t mean any harm. “I’m not from around here,” Tate explains as he holds his weapon. “I’ve got a big (expletive) (expletive) gun, but I’m not from around here. I’m from Chicago, dude.”
Tate, can be heard asking the employee about the weapon he is holding. Tate slowly walks out of the store after the employee responds.
“He then fumbles for words, resorting to meaningless babble about being from Chicago,” according to a statement from the sheriff’s office. “When your felony attempt is foiled by lawful and righteous force, words seem to fail you.”
Authorities said Tate was arrested on September 15 in Santa Rose County, adding, “You’re not in Chicago anymore; you’re under arrest.”
Authorities said they recovered the Benelli shotgun he allegedly used.