Man who shot Aldi robbery suspect WILL get gun back

MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- Dierre Cotton -- one of two accused in the attempted robbery of an Aldi store was sentenced on Thursday, April 11th. Following the sentencing, Nazir Al-Mujaahid, a citizen with a concealed carry permit who shot Cotton and thwarted the robbery had a brief hearing before the judge.

The judge ruled that Al-Mujaahid WILL receive his weapon back from the Milwaukee Police Department.

Al-Mujaahid was hailed a hero for shooting Cotton inside the Aldi's store. He had said he planned to sue the city of Milwaukee, saying the city would not give him his gun back after he used it to foil the robbery.

Two suspects likely would have gotten away with robbery at an Aldi's store near 76th and Villard in Milwaukee back in January, 2012 if Al-Mujaahid hadn't stopped them. Al-Mujaahid shot a suspect, and now says he hasn't been able to get his gun back, forcing Wisconsin Carry to file a lawsuit against the city.

"About a month after the incident, we sought for police to return the gun voluntarily and the police claim it's needed as evidence.  We would like police to articulate what evidential value that gun has," Nik Clark with Wisconsin Carry, Inc. said.

Al-Mujaahid has a concealed carry permit and was cleared of any wrongdoing in the incident, without any charges filed against him. He says he was trying to save the lives of the clerk and customers inside the Aldi's store that night.

"There's a need for carrying guns for self defense. Guns are not cheap, and he would like to continue to exercise his right to self defense, but when police haven't returned his firearm, it's financially difficult for him to do that," Clark said.

FOX6 News spoke with Al-Mujaahid about what happened. "I made the decision to go ahead and try to resolve the situation," Al-Mujaahid said. Al-Mujaahid said it was fate that he just happened to be in the store while the attempted robbery occurred.