Another One Bites the Dust

So Friday I'm on my way to get a burrito, when I notice police have taped off the street surrounding a nearby pharmacy. I remember a few weeks ago when this same pharmacy got robbed. But this time was different. The repeat robber comes in and demands that the employee give him drugs. The robber begins to pull out a revolver, then BLAM, the employee pulls out a gun from behind the counter and shoots the robber, killing him. The catch: the robber was carrying a plastic replica of the gun.

From the news story:

A 32-year-old man armed with a plastic replica revolver was shot to death Friday by an employee of a North Park pharmacy when he allegedly tried to rob it for a second time, authorities said.

At about 11:30 a.m., the robbery suspect, whose name has not been released, entered the FedRx Pharmacy in the 4000 block of 30th Street near Lincoln Avenue wearing latex gloves and sunglasses, said San Diego police homicide Lt. Kevin Rooney.

An employee recognized the man as the same person who allegedly robbed the business of prescription drugs at gunpoint on April 11, Rooney said.

The man again demanded drugs, and reached for the butt of what appeared to be a handgun protruding from his waistband, according to Rooney.

As the man placed his hand on the gun, the employee who recognized him pulled a gun and fatally wounded the suspect, Rooney said.

The suspect collapsed near the pharmacy's front door and the employee called police. The suspect died at the scene, Rooney said.

It turned out the man's gun was a plastic replica revolver, according to Rooney. The employee involved in the shooting was questioned and released.

The Police Department's homicide team will investigate the shooting and present its findings to the District Attorney's Office, Rooney said.

I'm not a fan of violence, but I am a fan of justice. As my neighbor said, "It's just one less crackhead out on the streets." So many times the robber gets away with it, and this one didn't. He was probably ramping up for a big weekend of fun, but got stopped short, literally. I hope he learned a valuable lesson and doesn't do it again.

Here's a photo from the street after it happened: