Shocking surveillance footage from the Norco Market & Liquor in the 2800 block of Clark Avenue in Norco, California, shows a masked assailant entering the business at approximately 2:47 a.m. with an AR-15 style rifle pointed at the 80-year-old store owner.
The suspect yelled, “Freeze, hands in the air,” but within seconds, the quick-witted store owner pulled his own rifle from under the counter and immediately shot the robber once, hitting him in the arm.
The video also shows another man getting out of a black BMW SUV, but he stopped and got back into the vehicle when he saw the first suspect running out of the store repeatedly screaming, “He shot my arm!”
All three suspects involved in the attempted robbery have been arrested, with the suspect who was shot hospitalized in critical but stable condition.Fox11
Riverside County Sheriff’s officials arrested three suspects — Justin Johnson, 22, of Inglewood, Calif., Jamar Williams, 27, of Los Angeles, and Davon Broadus, of Las Vegas, Nevada — at a local hospital.
The main suspect, a 23-year-old man, remained in critical but stable condition at the hospital, officials said. His identity is being released pending his release from the hospital.
“In this case, a legally armed member of our community prevented a violent crime and ensured his own safety while confronted by multiple armed suspects,” the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release. “This investigation is active and ongoing and no additional information will be released at this time.”
Employees at Norco Market & Liquor said the owner was watching the store’s cameras as the SUV pulled into the parking lot. Upon seeing the first assailant get out of the SUV and pull a mask over his face, the owner immediately went to get his rifle.
The 80-year-old store owner didn’t hesitate to defend himself and his business when the suspect walked in with his rifle pointed straight at him. Fox 11
“He just set up … and he stood here and took aim and shot,” store manager Marnia Tapia told Fox11.
The other two suspects sped away after the suspect who was shot ran yelling, “He shot me in the arm,” into the car. Riverside County Sheriff’s Office
Employees said the owner was not at the store Monday, but Fox11 reported the man suffered a heart attack shortly after the shooting. He is expected to recover and will be released from the hospital Monday night.
Sheriff’s officials said the SUV used in the attempted robbery was stolen and several stolen firearms were also found inside the vehicle.
Johnson, Williams and Brodus were booked into the Robert Presley Detention Center in Riverside for robbery and conspiracy. They are being held in jail in lieu of $500,000 bail.
The prime suspect will also be held at the facility once he is released from the hospital, officials said.
