Two shot in South Richmond store
A gunman who had wounded a shopkeeper and opened fire on several customers was stopped yesterday when another man shot him at the store in South Richmond, authorities said.
The violent attempted robbery took place shortly after 1 p.m. at the Golden Food Market at 2701 Jefferson Davis Highway, the same store where another man was shot last month -- and only three blocks from the scene of another robbery in June that left a shopkeeper dead.
Owners of as many as a dozen Jefferson Davis-area businesses flocked to the scene of the shooting, and many were rattled by such a brazen daylight attack, said Councilwoman Reva Trammell, whose 8th District includes the Jefferson Davis corridor.
Trammell, who arrived outside the store shortly after yesterday's shootings, described a frenzied scene. One man told Trammell that the man who had shot the robber was a guardian angel.
"Whoever did it probably saved their lives in there," Trammell said of the shooter.
Police did not identify anyone involved in yesterday's shootings.
The man who shot the robber is a friend of the store owner, and he was wearing a holster with a Western-style revolver, said Managing Deputy Commonwealth's Attorney Tracy Thorne-Begland.
After the suspect shot the store owner and opened fire on patrons, the owner's friend shot the suspect once in the torso, took his gun and called police, Thorne-Begland said.
Thorne-Begland said it appeared that the shooting of the suspect was justified, although he emphasized that the investigation was in the early stages.
Police said they expect to file charges against the suspect.
The store owner's injuries did not appear life-threatening, authorities said, but the gunman's injuries were said to be life-threatening. No one else was hurt.
Anthony Gregory, who lives near Golden Food, said he was in the store about 15 minutes before the shootings, and that while he was there, he saw a man with a baby making a purchase.
Gregory said the owner told the baby, "Welcome to the world. This is a dangerous world, so be careful. But don't worry, God will protect you."
Police Cmdr. Steve Drew said officers had been patrolling up and down Jefferson Davis yesterday and recently have bolstered their presence in the area. He said it was unusual for a commercial robbery to happen so early in the day.
The previous shooting at Golden Food took place late the night of June 12. And three nights earlier, a co-owner of the Come and Go Food Market, which is about three blocks north of Golden Food on Jefferson Davis, was shot and killed in a robbery.
Authorities said it was too early to know whether any of the three shootings on Jefferson Davis are connected.
A few hours after yesterday's shootings, Said "Sam" Messaf, the man who was shot June 12 at Golden Food, was at the store to help another man shut down the market.
Messaf described how he had been helping out at the store June 12 when two robbers came inside. One man opened fire, reaching over the counter and shooting as Messaf cowered behind it, he said. Messaf was shot six times in his legs.
He said he suffered nerve damage in his left leg and has trouble sleeping.
Trammell said residents and business owners were scared by the recent violence but have faith that police are doing their best to stop it.
"I'm still shook up," Trammell said. "I'm not afraid, but we've worked so hard on Jefferson Davis -- so hard in that area to bring crime down."
Contact Reed Williams at (804) 649-6332 or
.
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Reader Reactions
“ In Smith & Wesson We Trust.“
I stand corrected.
“This year will go down in history. For the first time, a civilised nation has full gun registration! Our streets will be safer, our police more efficient,
and the world will follow our lead into the future!“
The quote is fabricated and an urban legend.
http://www.guncite.com/gun_control_gcbogus.html
Karl Marx wanted everyone to own a gun, though. Not that it really means anything.
since we’re quoting, here’s a favorite of mine from someone ya’ll might remember.
“This year will go down in history. For the first time, a civilised nation has full gun registration! Our streets will be safer, our police more efficient,
and the world will follow our lead into the future!“
Adolph Hitler
CRIMINAL
–adjective 1. of the nature of or involving crime.
2. guilty of crime.
3. Law. of or pertaining to crime or its punishment: a criminal proceeding.
–noun a person guilty or convicted of a crime.
Synonyms:
1. felonious, unlawful. See illegal. 6. malefactor, evildoer, transgressor, culprit, felon, crook, hoodlum, gangster.
VIGILANTE
–noun 1. a member of a vigilance committee.
2. any person who takes the law into his or her own hands, as by avenging a crime.
–adjective 3. done violently and summarily, without recourse to lawful procedures: vigilante justice.
Origin:
1825–35, Americanism; < Sp: vigilant
[Spanish, watchman, vigilante, from Latin vigilâns, vigilant-, present participle of vigilâre, to be watchful, from vigil, watchful; see weg- in Indo-European roots.]
“The constitutions of most of our States assert that all power is inherent in the people; that… it is their right and duty to be at all times armed.“
—Thomas Jefferson to John Cartwright, 1824.
“One loves to possess arms, though they hope never to have occasion for them.“
—Thomas Jefferson to George Washington, 1796. ME 9:341
“Laws that forbid the carrying of arms . . . disarm only those who are neither inclined nor determined to commit crimes . . . Such laws make things worse for the assaulted and better for the assailants; they serve rather to encourage than to prevent homicides, for an unarmed man may be attacked with greater confidence than an armed man.“
—Thomas Jefferson, quoting Cesare Beccaria in On Crimes and Punishment (1764).
“Those who hammer their guns into plowshares will plow for those who do not.“
Thomas Jefferson
Third President of the United States
“Firearms stand next in importance to the constitution itself. They are the American people’s liberty teeth and keystone under independence … from the hour the Pilgrims landed to the present day, events, occurences and tendencies prove that to ensure peace security and happiness, the rifle and pistol are equally indispensable … the very atmosphere of firearms anywhere restrains evil interference — they deserve a place of honor with all that’s good.“
George Washington
First President of the United States
“The supposed quietude of a good man allures the ruffian; while on the other hand arms, like laws, discourage and keep the invader and plunderer in awe, and preserve order in the world as property. The same balance would be preserved were all the world destitute of arms, for all would be alike; but since some will not, others dare not lay them aside … Horrid mischief would ensue were the law-abiding deprived of the use of them.“
Thomas Paine-Author of “Common Sense”
There are already a lot of “gun” laws on the books, and we all agree that there are both good and bad uses for guns. In this case, if I had been in that store, and any person, citizen or not, had decided to change their status from “law abiding” to “criminal” via the use of a gun, or any other weapon, I’d be glad that someone was there to neutralize that threat. I’m not going to get into the debate about gun control, and private ownership, because this article is about criminal use of a gun, and the non-criminal use of one. Clear and simple.
RoyB, you are right on the money. Jake; if someone walks into a store you are shopping in and starts shooting everybody during a violent robbery, you pop out your trusty cell phone. That will scare the robber away. Wake up Jake…I smell coffee.
Virginia should change their gun laws. That is 100% true.
Virgina should copy the laws of a northeastern state.
To those of a state that voted 70% for Barack Obama.
One that is probably the most liberal in the nation.
VERMONT!!!!!
lol
Deebat: Yes, there you are. Are you saying that it would have been better to allow the robber to shoot more people, and to profit from his crime? Since (Surprise!) there was no armed police officer on the scene at the instant of need, that would seem to be what you say when you say that armed citizens are a bad thing.
Jake, if you can’t comprehend the difference “vigilantes” and “self-defense”, then you are truly stupid. Do you happen to remember anyhing from the dim vestiges of your history classes about an “unalienable” right to “life”? If someone walks in to a place where I am peaceably and lawfully going about my business, and starts shooting people, then if there is any possible way to do so, I’m going to stop him. I’d prefer not to kill him, but if that’s the only way to stop his shooting, that’s what I’ll do.
If you have a better idea, do please share it with the rest of us, out of the generosity of your great heart and infinite wisdom.
We’re here, dklee. We’re right here.
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