Dear Customers:

As the owners of the 7-11 franchise on Guadalupe Road in Austin, Texas, we realize that many of you are upset with the recent occurrence at our location, and we want you to know that we are, too. We acknowledge that mistakes were made in dealing with the recent situation concerning Jacko "Skinny" Williams, who held our cashier at gunpoint late last night and stole seventeen Reduced-Fat Slim Jims and a 36 ounce Diet Mr. Pibb Slurpee before leaving our assistant store manager, Fatimah Jenkins, regrettably dead.

We believe it was a mistake to call the police in this matter.

We also feel that it was a mistake to use 911.

As with all mistakes, there are lessons to be learned from this situation and we will use these lessons to improve our operations.

We apologize to Mr. & Mrs. Williams and hope that the actions of our thoughtless manager, who made their son's lawlessness public knowledge, did not cause them any undue embarrassment (they are entitled to a FREE 16 oz. Gulp® drink, as is their son, Skinny, upon release from the penitentiary).

We apologize to anyone else who has been upset or inconvenienced by this incident. We sincerely hope that you will continue to visit our convenience store, regardless of your intent to obey the law. We value your patronage, as would Miss Jenkins if she were still with us.

-- Abu-Talib and Muhammad A'ishah, managers.