Suspected clerk killer appeared in court

MANCHESTER, Conn. (WTNH) -- A man charged in the murder of an East Hartford store clerk faced a judge on Tuesday.

If 25-year old Kezlyn Mendez is looking for sympathy, he will find no support from the woman who raised him.

"...my son, is an idiot," said his mother, Leatha McFarland. "I'm very angry with him!"

Her son is accused of walking into East Hartford's Circle H convenience store Saturday night, firing one shot, and killing 47-year-old Luthfur Tarafdar. The victim was a husband and a father to three girls.

"When I look at him, he's him," said Sayed Ahmed. "I look at his daughter's faces.They're not going to see their dad anymore. We want justice."

Police say when Mendez walked into the store, he fired his gun without giving Tarafdar a chance to give him money. Officers later found a cell phone in the store, which belonged to Mendez.  

• View the full arrest warrant  

A prayer service was held for Tarafdar in New York City Monday night. He he lived and worked there for years, but moved to Connecticut to look for a more peaceful lifestyle.

"More than thousands, even the holy mosque was full, and the street was full," said Srker Mamoon. "After prayer, people still gathered, didn't want to go home, just feel sad and talk about him."

Mendez, who has a long criminal history, was given a $3 million bond.

He is due back in court on September 11.