Struthers clerk pulls gun during attempted robbery

By EMMALEE C. TORISK

etorisk@vindy.com

STRUTHERS

An attempted robbery early Wednesday at Sami Quick Stop, 2115 E. Midlothian Blvd., likely didn’t go as planned for the two 17-year-old suspects.

Threatened with a rifle by one of the suspects, the clerk working there — a concealed-carry weapons permit holder — pulled out his own gun and shot the suspect in the back of the left arm.

“He had it on himself legally,” said Detective Ray Greenwood of the Struthers Police Department. “He felt that his life was in danger at that point and decided to do what was necessary.”

Both the suspects live in Youngstown, Greenwood said, adding they will be arraigned through the Martin P. Joyce Juvenile Justice Center. The injured suspect was released Thursday morning from St. Elizabeth Health Center, where he received treatment for the gunshot wound.

Police are not releasing the suspects’ names, Greenwood noted.

Police received a call regarding the attempted robbery at 12:40 a.m. Wednesday.

The two suspects, with their faces covered and dressed in dark clothing, entered the store with the weapon. They then threw a backpack at the clerk, telling him to put all the store’s money into the bag. Both fled after the clerk shot at them, but were arrested Wednesday evening.

Greenwood added that normally the drive-through is the only part of the business open at the time of the attempted robbery, but because of construction — the owner is building a Dunkin’ Donuts on the lot next door and also expanding the convenience store — the entire store was open.