A 30-year-old man was charged Monday with shooting and killing a Salt Lake City convenience store clerk earlier this month.

Anthony William Cline was charged in 3rd District Court with first-degree felony murder for the Nov. 2 slaying of 29-year-old Jamie Blalack.

No court dates were immediately set.

At about 1:20 a.m., Cline entered the 7-Eleven at 1157 W. California Ave., and got into an argument over cigarettes, according to police. Blalack asked him to leave, but Cline allegedly fired one shot on his way out and hit Blalack, according to a police news release.

Police found Blalack dead behind the counter from a bullet wound to the head.

Charging documents state that there was a large bullet hole in the front window of the store, and a .45-caliber shell casing was found on the grass outside the store.

Police obtained video surveillance footage from the store, which showed an individual arguing with Blalack just before he was shot. The individual can be heard telling Blalack that he is going to shoot him, charges state.

Several still images from the video footage was released to media outlets. Acting on tips from the public, police learned the individual in the video was Cline, according to charges.

Detectives traced his location to a motel in Davis County, where he was arrested.

A search of Cline's motel room yielded a silver 1911 model .45-caliber handgun, as well as clothing that matched the clothing worn by Cline during the 7-Eleven shooting, charges state.

Cline later admitted to police that he was at the 7-Eleven and had fired the gun at the store after he left, according to charges.

Blalack had worked the graveyard shift at the store for four years and lived in the area, according to police.

A search of Utah court records shows that Cline has a handful of misdemeanor convictions — including for possession of drugs, possession of drug paraphernalia and criminal mischief — dating from 2003 to 2009.

shunt@sltrib.com