Advertisement Police: Teen killed at Dayton Mall was trying to rob man of shoes Victim pulled gun, shot teen outside mall Share Shares Copy Link Copy

Police say a Middletown teen shot to death at an area mall was trying to steal shoes.Police in Miami Township, in Montgomery County, said Jawaad Jabbar, 16, was at the Dayton Mall Saturday with some other teens attempting to get a pair of new, limited-release Air Jordan’s that were going on sale.Watch this story | Watch police news conferenceWhen he failed to get in line in time to get a pair of shoes, police said, Jabbar decided to rob someone who had the shoes. He approached two men just outside the mall and showed a gun, police said.Sgt. Jay Phares said that one of the men Jabbar tried to rob also had a handgun, which he pulled out and fired one time. Jabbar was struck by the bullet and was pronounced dead a short time later.“This was a random act of ‘I want something that person has and I’m going to take it from them by any means,’” Phares said.The man who shot Jabbar has a concealed carry permit, Phares said. He said the CCW holder may have violated mall policy if he had the gun in the mall, but that determination wasn't part of the police department's investigation.Two other teens were arrested Tuesday in connection with the incident. Formal charges have not been filed, police said. Phares said the two could end up being charged with murder.“It is tragic that someone lost their lives over tennis shoes," Phares said.On Saturday the Middletown High School athletics department expressed sadness on social media, saying, “We lost a loved one, an athlete, a Middie. Rest in peace Jawaad Jabbar (JJ) and all of our prayers go to his family. #41forever.”WLWT reached out to Jabbar’s family, coaches and friends, but they said it was too soon to talk. They would only say that the Jabbar was a good kid and dedicated athlete, who was determined to be the best.