Britt Prawat

It's not hard to imagine the sinking feeling Muhammad must have felt when he headed toward the one-stop and saw the red and blue flashing lights from a distance. And he understandably didn't stay at the scene for long. He told police Rafi had sent him over to check on Javid and confirmed that his brother had been working alone at the store that night.

It's not hard to imagine the sinking feeling Muhammad must have felt when he headed toward the one-stop and saw the red and blue flashing lights from a distance. And he understandably didn't stay at the scene for long. He told police Rafi had sent him over to check on Javid and confirmed that his brother had been working alone at the store that night.

And then Muhammad raced to the hospital where Rafi had met him to wait for news on Javid's condition. Meanwhile, detectives searched the store parking lot and began to canvas the wider area. Ryan, the guy who'd called 911, had stayed at the scene. He told police about the pop sound he'd heard and the brief glimpse he'd gotten of two people running across the street.

And then Muhammad raced to the hospital where Rafi had met him to wait for news on Javid's condition. Meanwhile, detectives searched the store parking lot and began to canvas the wider area. Ryan, the guy who'd called 911, had stayed at the scene. He told police about the pop sound he'd heard and the brief glimpse he'd gotten of two people running across the street.

And then Muhammad raced to the hospital where Rafi had met him to wait for news on Javid's condition. Meanwhile, detectives searched the store parking lot and began to canvas the wider area. Ryan, the guy who'd called 911, had stayed at the scene. He told police about the pop sound he'd heard and the brief glimpse he'd gotten of two people running across the street.

But it was really dark out, so he couldn't make out much detail. Here's Detective Scott Roberts, now the lead detective on the case.

But it was really dark out, so he couldn't make out much detail. Here's Detective Scott Roberts, now the lead detective on the case.

But it was really dark out, so he couldn't make out much detail. Here's Detective Scott Roberts, now the lead detective on the case.

So that's two witnesses describing similar suspects and pointing police toward the fence on the edge of the Mill Pond Village apartments. A sprawling housing complex with multiple buildings, a few big parking lots, and hundreds of units. A place Chief Carl said police knew well.

So that's two witnesses describing similar suspects and pointing police toward the fence on the edge of the Mill Pond Village apartments. A sprawling housing complex with multiple buildings, a few big parking lots, and hundreds of units. A place Chief Carl said police knew well.

So that's two witnesses describing similar suspects and pointing police toward the fence on the edge of the Mill Pond Village apartments. A sprawling housing complex with multiple buildings, a few big parking lots, and hundreds of units. A place Chief Carl said police knew well.

Detectives found physical evidence that backed up those witness accounts as they shone their flashlights across the snowy ground outside the store. There were cracks in the smooth white surface. Shoe prints. They showed that two people were headed toward Mill Pond. And fast.

Detectives found physical evidence that backed up those witness accounts as they shone their flashlights across the snowy ground outside the store. There were cracks in the smooth white surface. Shoe prints. They showed that two people were headed toward Mill Pond. And fast.

Detectives found physical evidence that backed up those witness accounts as they shone their flashlights across the snowy ground outside the store. There were cracks in the smooth white surface. Shoe prints. They showed that two people were headed toward Mill Pond. And fast.

Police followed the prints, but the path suddenly stopped at the Mill Pond parking lot. It had been plowed. No snow means no more shoe prints. A canine handler and his dog Mac were also brought out to the area to see if they could track ascent from the parking lot where Javid was found to wherever the shooter or shooters may have gone.

Police followed the prints, but the path suddenly stopped at the Mill Pond parking lot. It had been plowed. No snow means no more shoe prints. A canine handler and his dog Mac were also brought out to the area to see if they could track ascent from the parking lot where Javid was found to wherever the shooter or shooters may have gone.

Police followed the prints, but the path suddenly stopped at the Mill Pond parking lot. It had been plowed. No snow means no more shoe prints. A canine handler and his dog Mac were also brought out to the area to see if they could track ascent from the parking lot where Javid was found to wherever the shooter or shooters may have gone.

And Mac did track ascent right along the same path to the fence. In fact, Mac took them even further into the complex and to one set of apartments called the U Building. Police talked to the folks who lived there, but no one had seen their suspects running over there. It would be a dead end for investigators. The first of many.

And Mac did track ascent right along the same path to the fence. In fact, Mac took them even further into the complex and to one set of apartments called the U Building. Police talked to the folks who lived there, but no one had seen their suspects running over there. It would be a dead end for investigators. The first of many.

And Mac did track ascent right along the same path to the fence. In fact, Mac took them even further into the complex and to one set of apartments called the U Building. Police talked to the folks who lived there, but no one had seen their suspects running over there. It would be a dead end for investigators. The first of many.