While Held At Gunpoint, Cellphone Store Clerk Shoots Robbery Suspect
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- Inver Grove Heights police say it is a rare to have a store robbery in their city -- let alone in broad day light.
"This is the first time I've heard of our store being robbed like this at gunpoint," said Inver Grove Heights Police Lt. Joshua Otis.
Police say two men, one of them armed, went into Cellular Connection on Cahill Avenue around 11 a.m. Thursday.
But as one suspect held the store clerk at gunpoint, the clerk pulled out his own gun.
"At this point we believe some shots were fired by the clerk," Lt. Otis said.
After an exchange of gunfire, the armed suspect was shot multiple times.
Nancy Brown was at the dentist next door to Cellular Connection when the shooting happened.
"It was just kind of a 'boom-boom!'" Brown said. "The assistant said, 'That's gun shots!' The dentist said, 'No, it can't be!' Then within five minutes the police were at the door telling us to lock up."
Police say the employee had a permit to carry and was not harmed. They will be reviewing surveillance video to determine exactly what happened.
Police say the robbery was not a random act and the firearm used by the suspect was found at the scene. No other customers were inside the store.
The suspect who was shot was taken to Regions Hospital.
Police say the other suspect, who was not armed, is still missing. They do not believe he is a danger to the public.
