Opening arguments are set to begin Wednesday after a jury was picked for the murder trial of a downtown Raleigh store owner accused of fatally stabbing a man last year.
Taiseer Zarka, 61, is charged with second-degree murder in the April 6, 2023, death of Mark Thomas Garrity Jr., 27, of Calabash.
Zarka allegedly stabbed Garrity about 3:45 p.m. in his South Wilmington Street store, Taz's Supermarket One, after an argument, according to the medical examiner's investigative report.
"The owner had accused Mr. Garrity of stealing some drinks and confronted him," the report states. "The two began arguing and then the owner pulled out a folding pocketknife and stabbed the decedent multiple times. Mr. Garrity ran from the store and collapsed on the sidewalk out front."
A bystander performed CPR, but Garrity ultimately died in the operating room at WakeMed just over an hour later, according to the report.
"Cameras inside the store showed the decedent possibly stealing beverages and an unopened power drink was found in his backpack," the report states.
Zarka was charged with murder almost two weeks later, The News & Observer previously reported.
Garrity's autopsy report found he died from three stab wounds to the torso, including one that penetrated his heart. His death was ruled a homicide.
Customer's Facebook post
Weeks before Garrity's death, a post about Zarka gained attention on Facebook after a customer posted a video of the shop owner shouting at her to "get the [expletive] out."
"Today, I was harassed, threatened & verbally abused by [Zarka] for no apparent reason while purchasing a beverage & using the microwave," the customer wrote in the March 16, 2023, post. "I was shocked & scared for my life as I don't know what set him off."
Garrity, meanwhile, had been placed on probation the week before his death after pleading guilty in March 2023 to a charge of felony breaking and entering, The N&O previously reported.
That charge stemmed from Garrity's theft of several hundred dollars' worth of power tools from a Cary restaurant earlier that month.
Jurors for murder trial selected
Late Tuesday afternoon, a jury of nine men and three women was impaneled in Zarka's case, according to ABC11, The N&O's newsgathering partner. Two alternate jurors were also chosen.
Several potential jurors were dismissed Monday and Tuesday for various reasons, including at least three who said they feared they couldn't handle watching a graphic video of the stabbing.
At least seven of Garrity's loved ones were in court Tuesday, including several people who were asked to remove buttons with Garrity's face on them to prevent influencing potential jurors.
As they questioned potential jurors, defense attorney Karl Knudsen and Assistant District Attorney Patrick Latour indicated Knudsen will argue Zarka acted in self-defense.
"This is concealment of [a] Gatorade that led to an altercation that led to a stabbing," Latour said as he questioned one potential juror.
A Gofundme campaign for Garrity's family had raised $7,435 as of Tuesday.
"Mark was a caring soul that only wanted the best for everyone," the online fundraiser states. "Life was hard but he always kept a loving spirit and gold standard for his family."
Garrity, a native of New Jersey, moved to Wake Forest in middle school and attended Heritage Middle School and Heritage High School, his obituary states. He is survived by his parents, two younger brothers and grandparents.