Wilmington store owner shoots robber

WILMINGTON, De. - February 14, 2008 Wilmngton police say four men confronted the owner of BGM Liquor Store on Lombard Street as he locked up. One of the suspects fired a shot at the owner, who has a gun for protection. The owner returned the fire.

It happened at approximately 10:05 pm. Wilmington Police were on another call in the 900 block of N. Pine Street when they heard several gunshots coming from the area of 10th and Pine Streets.

Two officers began running toward the corner store and saw two of the suspects running away from the area. They caught the men in the rear of a home in the 1000 block of Lombard Street, where they were banging on the rear door of a house and yelling "open the door, let me in."

The officers discovered one of the suspects carrying a .22 Cal rifle, police said. The officers then learned BGM Liquor Store had just been robbed by four men.

The owner told police that as he was locking the door, one of the suspects confronted him with a rifle, demanded money and fired one shot at him. The owner of the store returned fire and the men ran away. The owner saw one of the men fall down as if he was struck by his gunfire, but he got back up and ran off.

Later, Wilmington police learned a patient at Chester Crozer Hospital was being treated for a minor gunshot wound to the leg. He said that he was shot in downtown Wilmington in the area of 5th & Orange Streets.

The 15-year-old was then questioned and taken into custody by police.

Investigators also served a search warrant at 1027 Lombard Street where a 4th suspect was taken into custody as a participant in the crime.

The 15-year-old, a 17-year-old and 20-year-old Cory Clark, all of Wilmington, and 20-year-old Christopher Whittaker of New Castle, were all charged with Robbery 1st degree, Possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, Reckless endangering and Conspiracy 2nd.