Retired Officer Shoots Suspect, Halts Robbery
BALTIMORE (WJZ)--A trip to pick up dinner ends with gunfire and blood. An armed robber walks into a carry-out restaurant and pulls out a gun. All while a retired police officer stands at the counter.
Mike Schuh explains what that officer did to put an end to the robbery attempt.
An hour before closing at Judy's Island Grill customers line up. One of those there was a retired police officer.
"It appears as if a retired Baltimore City police officer was at a carry-out ordering dinner, when a man with a gun came in," said Det. Kevin Brown, Baltimore City Police. "The officer engaged the suspect, shooting at least once. He was taken to an area hospital in serious condition."
At the doorway or just outside, the 25-year-old robber was shot in the head. He dropped his gun and collapsed a few feet from the front door.
He was taken to a nearby hospital and is still alive, but barely.
Thursday, the restaurant reopened—with blood still on the sidewalk.
Inside workers are thankful for that retired officer.
"A cop is trained to do two things: to protect and to serve," said Osborne Bristol, Judy's Island Grill.
That unnamed officer was not injured. He was in the right place, at the wrong time.
"I do believe police have ultimate authority because no one wants to take law into own hands with a gun or anything like that," Bristol said.
There are cameras at the restaurant, but those don't protect against a handgun.
"It's a wake-up call; you have to be more cautious," Bristol said.
That worker finished up the conversation by thanking God for the retired officer's well-being.
Police are investigating whether the retired officer had a permit to carry his weapon. State law allows retired officers to continue to carry a gun if they apply to do so.
