Warren man shot at gas station

Staff report

WARREN

A 23-year-old Union Street Southwest man was taken to ValleyCare Trumbull Memorial Hospital after being shot in the parking lot of Rocky’s Gas, 1744 West Market St.

Police said Tuesday they had no additional information until they have a chance to interview the victim, Montrea J. Roberts.

He was shot at 11:39 p.m. Sunday. Police recovered three shell casings at the scene.

Trumbull Memorial Hospital had no information on Roberts.

Police also were called to Lots of Loot, 2004 North Road, Sunday night for an armed robbery committed by one man dressed as a woman and a second person dressed in black with a bandanna over his face and a small rifle in his hands that resembled an AK-47.

A clerk at Lots of Loot told police that the man dressed as a woman approached him at the counter, asked about the business and then pulled a gun from his purse.

He then ordered the clerk to open the cash register and unlock the rear door of the business. When the door opened, the second suspect came inside, and the first suspect emptied the register.

The male dressed as a female ordered all seven customers to the floor and stole several purses, cellphones and cash from the customers.

The business is just south of Youngstown Road.

According to Internet listings, Lots of Loot is an Internet cafe, which generally involves patrons paying money to use computers with Internet access.

However, state officials refer to Internet cafes as sweepstakes parlors and say they offer unregulated gambling.

Earlier this month, Gov. John Kasich signed into law House Bill 7, which backers believe will effectively shutter most Internet cafes operating in the state.

The bill bans cash payouts, caps prize values at $10 and requires increased registration and oversight of the businesses.

A woman who answered the phone at Lots of Loot said she had no comment when asked what type of services are provided at the business.