10-15-2008, 07:00 AM
I'm putting the Daily Herald article here and link as it has 120 comments already!! On the News Sun site you can vote whether the clerk was justified or not.
![[Image: 99624.jpg]](http://i.dailyherald.com/stories/99/normal/99624.jpg)
Daily Herald
Waukegan store clerk fatally shoots robber, may face criminal charges
By Lee Filas | Daily Herald Staff
Published: 10/14/2008 12:27 PM | Updated: 10/14/2008 3:53 PM
A 20-year-old man who used a gun to rob a small Waukegan store Monday night was shot and killed moments later by a store clerk who chased him into the street, police said in a news release today.
Police are also searching for a second suspect, who they say did not enter the store but aided the robber and escaped despite being struck by a car while fleeing.
Brandon Starks, 20, of the 2000 block of Hervey Avenue in North Chicago, died of multiple gunshot wounds to the chest, Lake County Coroner Richard Keller said today.
In the Waukegan police department news release, Cmdr. Wayne Walles said Starks entered People's Market, at 901 8th St., at 7 p.m., brandishing a gun and demanding money from the store clerk. After the clerk turned over the money, Starks fled.
According to the release, the clerk grabbed a pistol from under the counter, ran out the door and saw Starks trying to flee northbound on Lincoln on a bicycle. The clerk fired several shots and struck the suspect twice in the upper torso and once in the leg.
Starks continued to ride the bicycle for a short distance before falling to the ground unconscious on Lincoln, Walles said. He was taken to Vista East Medical Center where he was pronounced dead at about 7:15 p.m.
Police have not released the identity of the store clerk.
Walles said police later discovered a second suspect fled the area on foot, Walles said in the release. As that suspect tried to run away, he was struck by a car near the store. Despite being hit by the car and injured, the accomplice got up and fled the area, according to the release.
Police said the second suspect is in his late teens or early 20s, tall, thin and last seen wearing a long-sleeved red shirt, black shorts and black and red tennis shoes.
Walles said criminal charges against the clerk are being reviewed by the police department and the Lake County State's Attorney's office.
However, Walles added, the clerk did have the required paperwork to obtain and carry a firearm, Walles said.
Lake County Assistant State's Attorney Steve Scheller said it is legal for the business to have a firearm on the premises as long as the person with the weapon has a valid firearm identification owners card.
He added the decision whether to charge the store clerk will not come until later this week or early next week.
Walles said it's unclear why the clerk had a gun at the store, but confirmed there have been numerous theft and other disturbances at the location in the past two years.
"That's one of the things we are reviewing in the case," he said. "But, at this time, we are unclear on why the clerk had a gun in the store."
Anyone with information is urged to contact Waukegan Police at (847) 599-2608.
Few residents living on Lincoln in the subdivision surrounding the stand-alone corner store were out Tuesday, but those who were discussed the incident.
"I thought it was kids playing with cap guns," said resident Tony Gonzalez, who added he heard about five shots fired Monday evening.
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=242609">http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=242609</a><!-- m -->
Daily Herald
Waukegan store clerk fatally shoots robber, may face criminal charges
By Lee Filas | Daily Herald Staff
Published: 10/14/2008 12:27 PM | Updated: 10/14/2008 3:53 PM
A 20-year-old man who used a gun to rob a small Waukegan store Monday night was shot and killed moments later by a store clerk who chased him into the street, police said in a news release today.
Police are also searching for a second suspect, who they say did not enter the store but aided the robber and escaped despite being struck by a car while fleeing.
Brandon Starks, 20, of the 2000 block of Hervey Avenue in North Chicago, died of multiple gunshot wounds to the chest, Lake County Coroner Richard Keller said today.
In the Waukegan police department news release, Cmdr. Wayne Walles said Starks entered People's Market, at 901 8th St., at 7 p.m., brandishing a gun and demanding money from the store clerk. After the clerk turned over the money, Starks fled.
According to the release, the clerk grabbed a pistol from under the counter, ran out the door and saw Starks trying to flee northbound on Lincoln on a bicycle. The clerk fired several shots and struck the suspect twice in the upper torso and once in the leg.
Starks continued to ride the bicycle for a short distance before falling to the ground unconscious on Lincoln, Walles said. He was taken to Vista East Medical Center where he was pronounced dead at about 7:15 p.m.
Police have not released the identity of the store clerk.
Walles said police later discovered a second suspect fled the area on foot, Walles said in the release. As that suspect tried to run away, he was struck by a car near the store. Despite being hit by the car and injured, the accomplice got up and fled the area, according to the release.
Police said the second suspect is in his late teens or early 20s, tall, thin and last seen wearing a long-sleeved red shirt, black shorts and black and red tennis shoes.
Walles said criminal charges against the clerk are being reviewed by the police department and the Lake County State's Attorney's office.
However, Walles added, the clerk did have the required paperwork to obtain and carry a firearm, Walles said.
Lake County Assistant State's Attorney Steve Scheller said it is legal for the business to have a firearm on the premises as long as the person with the weapon has a valid firearm identification owners card.
He added the decision whether to charge the store clerk will not come until later this week or early next week.
Walles said it's unclear why the clerk had a gun at the store, but confirmed there have been numerous theft and other disturbances at the location in the past two years.
"That's one of the things we are reviewing in the case," he said. "But, at this time, we are unclear on why the clerk had a gun in the store."
Anyone with information is urged to contact Waukegan Police at (847) 599-2608.
Few residents living on Lincoln in the subdivision surrounding the stand-alone corner store were out Tuesday, but those who were discussed the incident.
"I thought it was kids playing with cap guns," said resident Tony Gonzalez, who added he heard about five shots fired Monday evening.
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=242609">http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=242609</a><!-- m -->