Devin Chandler, suspect in Palmetto double slayings, arrested in Tampa

PALMETTO -- When detectives showed Devin Chandler's mother photos of the man they say shot and killed two brothers working Monday at a Palmetto convenience store, she told them she had no doubt: It was her son.

On Tuesday, the U.S. Marshals Service arrested Chandler in Tampa in the execution-style slayings of Khasem Yousef, 23, and his brother, Faares Yousef, a 17-year-old Manatee High senior.

Chandler, 25, of Palmetto was arrested on two counts of second-degree murder and one count of armed robbery with a firearm, in connection with the killing of the Yousef brothers at Snappy's Mart, 559 17th Street W. The store is owned by the Yousef family.

Security camera footage, according to police, shows Chan

dler entering the store sometime around 2:30 p.m. Monday, picking up one item and walking up to the counter.

Instead of paying, Chandler reached into his pocket and pulled out a handgun, first killing the older brother, who was standing near him, and then shot the younger brother who was standing behind the counter, according to the arrest warrant affidavit. Both brothers were shot in the head.

Chandler then jumped on the counter and took cash from the register and cigarettes from a rack before jumping back over and leaving the store, the affidavit states.

Police were called to the scene shortly afterward when a customer walked in and found the brothers' bodies.

At about 1 p.m. Tuesday, word that Chandler had been apprehended reached Palmetto Police Chief Scott Tyler. The suspect's vehicle had been spotted in Tampa, and the U.S. Marshals Service Fugitive Task Force was able to locate him at a nearby home.

Police were relieved to have Chandler off the streets, Tyler said.

"Based on what he did in the store yesterday, we were a little worried about any encounters he may have with people or law enforcement when we tried to take him into custody," he said. "We're happy that the community is safe."

Detectives with the Manatee County Sheriff's Office Homicide Investigative Unit were notified of Chandler's arrest and immediately went to Tampa to interview him.

Detectives got a break in the case Monday when Chandler's mother told a Palmetto patrol officer she thought her son may have been involved in the shooting, according to the affidavit. Homicide detectives met with the woman at her home, where Chandler also lived, just blocks from the shooting.

His mother told the detectives she was aware of what had occurred at Snappy's and was nervous that her son had been involved, the affidavit states. She said her son had come home and she had asked him if he had been involved.

"Devin then denied his involvement and left the residence a short time later," Palmetto Police detective Chad Oyler wrote in the affidavit.

While she was still home, the mother later got a call from her son. She said her son told her, "that he messed up and that he would not be coming back home."

Detectives showed the mother images from surveillance video and she confirmed that it was her son and his car, Oyler wrote. The mother showed detectives where his bedroom was, and detectives spotted a pair of slide sandals and red shorts matching what the gunman in the surveillance video was wearing.

Community reacts

The Council on American-Islamic Relations of Florida in Tampa had offered a $10,000 reward for any information leading to the arrest of the suspect in the shootings. Late Monday, the family of the victims also offered a $10,000 reward, in addition to a reward of up to $1,000 from Crime Stoppers.

CAIR Chief Executive Director Hassan Shibly was happy to hear an arrest had been made.

"We are horrified by this barbaric and senseless killing of two wonderful members of our community," Shibly said. "We wanted to contribute any way we can to assure the dangerous suspect is brought to justice and can never take the life of an innocent person again."

The Yousef family have been members of CAIR for years, he said.

"The family was well known for giving back to the community for those less fortunate," Shibly said.

In addition to their well-known charitable service to CAIR, the family also supports one of the mosques Shibly regularly attends.

"The mosque is very well-shaken at the loss of these two bright, young individuals," Shibly said "They worked jobs to provide support to their family business."

The brothers had been covering the shift at Snappy's in Palmetto because of the Labor Day holiday, but they regularly worked at another convenience store their father owns.

"It's so sad they lost their lives doing that, nobody should have to fear losing their lives while providing services to the community," Shibly said.

The brothers were honored Tuesday afternoon with traditional funeral prayers in Tampa, to be immediately followed by their burial.

Just after the fatal shooting Monday of the Yousef brothers, the suspect was captured by security cameras making a purchase at a 7-Eleven north of Palmetto, 2601 Old U.S. 41, according to Tyler. He was wearing the same clothes and driving the same car as at Snappy's, Tyler said.

Chandler was released from a Florida prison in September 2011 after serving just less than two years on a three-year sentence for a conviction of attempted armed robbery with a weapon, according to Department of Correction records. In that case, he is currently serving probation for this conviction.

In that case, Chandler pleaded no contest and was convicted for the attempted armed robbery of the store clerk of the A1A Food Mart, 1417 17th Ave. W., Bradenton, according to court records. Chandler walked in with a handgun, jumped over the counter and demanded money from the store clerk, but was interrupted by the clerk's co-worker and he attempted to run away. The clerk held Chandler by his shirt, and the two were fighting when police arrived.

Anyone with information about the crime can call Detective Chad Oyler at 941-224-4988. To remain anonymous and be eligible for a reward, call Manatee County Crime Stoppers at 1-866-634-TIPS (8477).

Jessica De Leon, Herald law enforcement reporter, can be reached at 941-745-7049. You can follow her on Twitter @JDeLeon1012.

This story was originally published September 9, 2015 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Devin Chandler, suspect in Palmetto double slayings, arrested in Tampa ."