MARK BROWN (EXECUTED IN OHIO ON 4 FEBRUARY 2010)

            On this date, 4 February 2010, Mark Brown was executed in Ohio for the double murder of Arab Americans, Isam Salman and Hayder Al Tuyrk on 28 January 1994.

Terri Rasul

SUMMARY: During the evening of January 28, 1994, Mark A. Brown was walking in the Kimmelbrook housing projects in Youngstown, Ohio when Gary Thomas and his nephew Allen Thomas drove by. Allen Thomas, a friend of Brown's, had Gary Thomas stop the car and pick up Brown. The three men proceeded to a drive-through store at the corner of Albert and Victor Streets, where they purchased beer and wine. Upon leaving the store, the three drove to the residence of Lisa Dotson, a relative of Allen Thomas. En route to the Dotson residence, the three stopped at a convenience store at the corner of Elm and New York Avenues called the Midway Market, to buy "blunt" cigars. These "blunt" cigars were emptied of tobacco and refilled with marijuana. Upon their arrival at the Dotson residence the three men began to play cards. A number of juveniles were at the house at the time including Myzelle Arrington, Marcus Clark, and Antwaine McMeans. While the men played cards Allen Thomas and Brown drank Thunderbird wine into which valium had been dissolved. In addition, Brown smoked some of the "blunt" cigars containing marijuana. While playing cards Brown stated to Allen Thomas that he wanted to do what the characters in "Menace to Society" had done. According to the testimony of Gary Thomas, "Menace to Society" is a movie, at the beginning of which some individuals enter an "Oriental store" and kill two store clerks before leaving with the store's cash. Gary Thomas also testified that he noticed that Brown had a gun on him while they were playing cards. After several hours, the three men left the house and returned to Kimmelbrooks to purchase more marijuana. After making the purchase, the three then returned to the Midway Market to purchase more "blunt" cigars. At about the same time as the three men were driving towards the store, the juveniles at the Dotson residence began walking to the store. Indeed, Marcus Clark testified that the juveniles were leaving the store just as Brown and Allen Thomas were entering. The Salman family had owned and operated the Midway Market as a family business for over twenty years. On duty in the store on January 28, 1994 were Isam Salman and Hayder Al-Turk. Salman, at the time aged 32 and the father of seven children, was the son of the store owner, and Al-Turk had been an employee at the store for approximately a year. Notably, because a family member was working on the night in question, the video surveillance cameras inside the store were not turned on. When the three men arrived at the store, Gary Thomas stayed in the car listening to music while Allen Thomas and Brown went inside. Allen Thomas and Brown returned to the vehicle but Brown then stated that he had forgotten to do something and went back into the store. Marcus Clark testified that he saw Brown put on a mask before re-entering the store but that Allen Thomas remained in the vehicle. Another of the juvenilles, Myzelle Arrington testified that both Brown and Allen Thomas re-entered the store. Gary Thomas testified that Allen Thomas did re-enter the store with Brown but came back out immediately. In any event, Clark, Arrington, and Gary Thomas all testified that while Brown was in the store they heard gunshots being fired. Brown returned to the vehicle and when questioned by Gary Thomas about the gunshots, Brown responded that it had just been some firecrackers exploding. The three men then left the scene and returned to the Dotson residence where Brown was observed wiping off his gun. In addition, Gary Thomas testified to seeing blood on Brown's hands and clothing. At approximately 9:55 p.m. the Youngstown Police Department responded to a call concerning the Midway Market. Upon arriving at the scene police officers found the bodies of Salman and Al-Turk behind the counter inside the store. Al-Turk was found laying on the floor and Salman was found kneeling underneath the counter. Both victims had died from multiple gunshot wounds. Brown was arrested on February 3, 1994 at an apartment in Warren, Ohio. At the time of the arrest police officers recovered a 9 mm handgun underneath some cushions on a couch. Brown was transported to the Youngstown Police Department where he was questioned by Detectives Maietta and McKnight. As a result of the questioning Brown made a confession to the killing of Al-Turk but denied shooting Salman. Subsequently, shell casings found at the store were found to have been fired from the handgun recovered during Brown's arrest.

Terri Rasul

QUOTE: "As sad as this may be, and it's very sad, justice has been served," said Terri Rasul, Salman's sister. "I just hope that this is a lesson for the young children today that they will learn not to do what Mark Brown did to my brother."

AUTHOR: Terri Rasul is the sister of Isam Salman who was murdered by Mark Brown on 28 January 1994. Mark Brown was executed on 4 February 2010 in the state of Ohio.