Las Vegas NowJewelry Store Owner Shoots Robbery Suspect

Jewelry Store Owner Shoots Robbery Suspect

Three robbery suspects tried to hit a jewelry store Wednesday night, but the victim turned the tables on them. The owner of the jewelry store opened fire hitting one suspect. Two are still on the run.

This is the third such incident this month. The first two in North Las Vegas were deadly.

Just after 7 p.m., the suspects, two men and one woman, tricked the owners to let them into the secured store by posing as customers. Once inside they pulled out at least one gun and demanded jewelry.

Both owners were forced to the ground but one of them was able to get a gun.

It then became a shootout.

Sgt. Rod Hunt, Metro Robbery, said, "The owners and the suspects exchanged gunfire. [It's] unclear who shot first. One of the suspects who was hit was taken to UMC."         

The owner was able to shoot one suspect in the spine. The other two got away. It's unclear whether they took any merchandise.

Police say a person in a car may have tried to stop the suspects by ramming their car. Shattered glass was scattered on the ground as detectives worked on figuring out how many guns were used and how many shots were fired.

People in the nearby shops ran for safety as they heard the gun battle next door.

Elizabeth Ruvalcaba, an eyewitness, said, "At first I thought it was fireworks, but I heard two gun shots -- two different kinds of sounds. "        

This is the third incident in the last month where either a shop owner or clerk has shot a robbery suspect.

"You have the right to protect yourself and your family. And I'm sure people are tired of being robbed and I don't blame them," Metro Sgt. Hunt continued.

The suspect who was shot in the spine is listed in stable to critical condition.

Police are checking surveillance tapes to see if that helps lead to a better description of the suspects who got away.

The storeowners appear to be okay.

Email your comments to Reporter Adrain Arambulo.

The first time a storeowner shot back was at a convenience store near Las Vegas Boulevard and Bassler. 

In that situation, two suspects moved everyone to the back of the store and tied them up. The store manager was able to get loose, grab a gun, and fire at the men.  

One suspect was killed.  The other suffered non-life threatening injuries.

The second incident happened on Jan. 11 when the owner of a furniture store near Civic Center and Lake Mead answered a knock at the back door as he was closing.  

He thought it was suspicious, so he grabbed a gun. When he opened the door, he was hit with a pipe.  

The storeowner then shot the suspect who later died at University Medical Center.

Another robbery suspect will hear evidence against him next month. Police say 20-year-old Matthew Carpenter was with 15-year-old Damien Clary Sunday night when they tried to break into a home near Buffalo and Vegas Drive.

The homeowner was there and shot the younger boy through the living room window. Damien Clary died.

Carpenter was arrested near the home.

The preliminary hearing is set for Feb. 7.