On Monday morning, two not-so-smart armed men in ski masks targeted a gun store in Cobb County, Georgia, looking to rob the place in what one costumer called an “un-thought-out plan.” Only one of the robbers left alive.
The owner of Dixie Gun and Pawn had just opened the store when the two gunmen entered, say investigators. The gun shop owner, clearly armed himself, immediately fired at the criminals, hitting and killing one of them. The other gunman made a getaway in a silver Dodge Magnum, and is believed to be armed.
According to WSBTV News, the owner said he felt he had no other choice than to shoot the criminals. Two costumers were in the store and the owner was alongside one of his employees at the time of the incident.
“It could have been him shot, you know,” said Bill Bloedow, a friend of the owner. “He was just protecting his merchandise and those around him. I hope it puts the fear in people going around trying to do this stuff, there is too much crime in this area.”
“I figure it was going to happen sooner or later. So much crime around here,” he added.
Another friend of the owner, Victor Harris, said the employer was “shaken up” by the incident.
“I feel sorry for both of them, really, and the guy that’s laying in the floor there, too,” said Harris.
“He’s just trying to make a living. That’s all he’s doing, and these guys come in and try to rob you and take your money and your guns. You can’t have a business these days without people trying to take what you’ve got,” added Harris.
Dixie Gun and Pawn customer Terrance Coner was amazed at the criminals’ target of a gun store.
“It’s just amazing to see someone try to come into a gun store to rob a gun store. I mean, that was a really un-thought-out plan,” said Coner.
As noted by Bearing Arms, it’s not totally uncommon for gun stores to be robbed, though they are usually targeted after business hours, “as the owners tend to be better armed and better trained than the robbers.”
Police hope to identify the second gunman via store surveillance video.