Store clerk shoots and kills robbery in Lexington, KY

[JohnKelly]

Lexington store clerk shoots, kills robber (Updated)
By Cassondra Kirby
HERALD-LEADER STAFF WRITER
A Lexington store clerk shot and killed a man who attempted to rob a downtown market this morning, Lexington police said.

Charles F. Harmon, 26, of Lexington entered SubCity Market, at the corner of East Seventh Street and Shropshire Avenue, just before 9:30 a.m. and demanded money from the clerk behind the counter, Lexington police Lt. James Curless said. The clerk pulled out a handgun and shot Harmon, who stumbled outside the store and collapsed.

The clerk then called 911, Curless said. When firefighters arrived they performed CPR on Harmon and transported him to the University of Kentucky Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 9:58 a.m., according to Fayette County Coroner Gary Ginn.

Police do not plan to file charges against the female store clerk, whom police did not identify.

Curless said Harmon implied to the store clerk that he had a weapon.

Police reviewed the store's surveillance video and found that the clerk's description of the robbery was accurate, a key factor in the decision not to file charges, Curless said.

"The law allows you to use force, up to deadly force, to defend yourself if you are in fear of your life," Curless said.

No customers were in the store at the time of the robbery attempt, he said.

The SubCity Market, located at 500 East Seventh Street, has been robbed several times in the past year and was burglarized a week ago, according to Lexington police. In past attempts, the clerks have complied with the requests of the robbers.

"This clearly paints a picture of the dangerous environment of armed robberies, whether you are the robber or whether you are the clerk," Curless said.


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[DefensiveCarry.com]

[P95Carry]

''Play with fire - get burned''.

Whats the saying ''just deserts''?!

No sympathy for the perp - and kudos to the clerk. GG's=1, BG's=0. As it should be.

[CopperKnight]

Not that I'm for killing people, but we need a few more of these to create a deterrence. Of course criminals are going to keep coming back if they keep getting away with it.

Hopefully it wasn't against "store policy" and the clerk can keep her job.

[Miggy]

The clerk pulled out a handgun and shot Harmon, who stumbled outside the store and collapsed.

The clerk then called 911,

Well, he got the sequence right

[CopperKnight]

Well, he got the sequence right

Absolutely! I've been on the phone with people before and heard shots fired and there is not a danged thing I can do about it. Protect yourself, then call for clean up.

[rimfiredude]

if more people responded like this maybe the robbers would think twice about robbing innocent people just trying to do there jobs,glad she wont be charged.

[500Mag]

Hopefully it wasn't against "store policy" and the clerk can keep her job.

I say give her a promotion and ham for her fine service.

[craig45]

i always like a happy ending.

[GoodSamaritan]

Dang, I was in lexington off and on all day today, and never heard about this.

OT that end of 7th street is bad news if it is where I think it is. I avoid it in the daytime, much less at night.

[Al.40cal]

I'd like to thank that clerk for there bravery and maybe one day all convient stores, gas stations etc, will get the hint that the service they offer is a magnet for crime. I say carry and carry often.

[kimber05]

if more people responded like this maybe the robbers would think twice about robbing innocent people just trying to do there jobs,glad she wont be charged.

+1

Tired of reading stories of store clerks and customers getting shot, glad this story had a better outcome. Emotionally, I hope the clerk gets the support she'll probably need right now.

[mik]

Blackbeard said "
If I don't kill a few of them now and then, they stop taking me seriously."

Hmmm ... might be something there we can use.

Good on the clerk for having the mindset to get the job done that needed doing.