A Cook County judge has sentenced a man with a decades-long felony record to 20 years in prison for murdering a grocery store clerk during a robbery last year. Jimmy Smith, 47, pleaded guilty to murder before Judge Ursula Walowski, who handed down the sentence, which must be served in its entirety.
Prosecutors said Smith went to the Half Moon grocery store at 360 East 79th Street just before closing time on January 9, 2024. About 30 minutes later, they said, he confronted clerk Shadi Almomani as Almomani stepped into his car behind the store around 10:15 p.m.
A witness heard someone demand Almomani’s wallet, followed by a popping sound, prosecutors said. Video showed Smith shoot Almomani in the head after Almomani tried to grab his hand, prosecutors alleged…