Store clerk shoots robber (FL)

[Miggy]

Store clerk shoots robber in Pembroke Pines
An alert convenience store clerk in Pembroke Pines shot an armed man who tried to rob his store on Sunday.
Posted on Mon, Aug. 13, 2007Digg it del.icio.us reprint or license print email
BY DIANA MOSKOVITZ
dmoskovitz@MiamiHerald.com

Bruce Flanders, 54, a clerk at the Super Stop Food Store in Pembroke Pines, stared down the barrel of a shotgun Sunday afternoon, then pulled the trigger of his own handgun and shot one of two would-be robbers.

''They definitely picked the wrong store,'' Pembroke Pines police spokesman Sgt. John Jacob said.

Here is how the shooting occurred, according to Pines police:

Shortly before 12:30 p.m., two men walked into the store at 6460 Pines Blvd., where Flanders and one other employee were inside. The men demanded cash from the register, and one held a shotgun.

Flanders, of Pembroke Pines, pulled out a handgun and aimed it at the man with the shotgun. That man then aimed his weapon at Flanders.

Flanders fired twice, hitting the man with the shotgun once in the torso. Both men ran off, heading east toward a nearby alley, where police found both -- the one who was shot was in the alley, and his partner was hiding inside a dumpster.

The shotgun was found next to the suspect in the alley. Pembroke Pines police did not release the men's names, but did say the injured man was 21 and the other 29.

The younger man was taken to Memorial Regional Hospital in Hollywood. The 29-year-old was taken to Broward County Jail.

Charges against both are pending. The store clerk won't be charged. Florida law allows citizens to use deadly force to defend themselves if they're in danger of death or great bodily harm.

Broward Sheriff's Office investigators also were notified of the car the men drove to the store, a white Ford Crown Victoria the men parked at a nearby Boyd's Funeral Home before walking over to the store.

The vehicle matched the description of the vehicle wanted in the killing of BSO Sgt. Chris Reyka, but Jacob, the Pines police spokesman, said the car's license plate was different.

Sunday's shooting marked at least the second time this year an employee used a gun to protect himself. In May, a jewelry store owner fatally shot one of two armed robbers when they tried to hold up his Fort Lauderdale store.

[DefensiveCarry.com]

[ron8903]

Too funny, parking at a funeral home before getting shot.

[miklcolt45]

Broward Sheriff's Office investigators also were notified of the car the men drove to the store, a white Ford Crown Victoria the men parked at a nearby Boyd's Funeral Home before walking over to the store.

The vehicle matched the description of the vehicle wanted in the killing of BSO Sgt. Chris Reyka, but Jacob, the Pines police spokesman, said the car's license plate was different.

First, I hope this means they have captured the scum who shot this deputy.

Second, if these are the men who shot Sgt. Reyka, Flanders was dealing with some very bad guys, and should be thanking God he shot first, and was not killed or injured.

Good on him!

[ArmyCop]

Good news article. Thanks for posting.

[Kompact9]

In this case the old adage is true..."Age and cunning will overcome youth and enthusiasm". I do hope those are the 2 that shot the BSO deputy and the BSO can prove it. They need to go down for a long time either way.

[peacefuljeffrey]

First, I hope this means they have captured the scum who shot this deputy.

It very well could. It's not uncommon for scumbag criminals to steal license plates and swap the onto the car they're driving so that the police, who are looking for a different plate, will be less inclined to snag them.

Of course, what they're looking for first and foremost is the white Crown Vic; if they see one, they're gonna run the plates, and if the plates come back as not belonging to the white Crown Vic, guess what's gonna happen.

[peacefuljeffrey]

In this case the old adage is true..."Age and cunning will overcome youth and enthusiasm". I do hope those are the 2 that shot the BSO deputy and the BSO can prove it. They need to go down for a long time either way.

I wonder, then, if Mr. Flanders would then be awarded the $105,000 they are posting as a reward!

IF these are the guys, then YES, MR. FLANDERS DESERVES ANY AND ALL REWARD MONEY. And a hero's parade, and a medal from the county.

[vanilla_gorilla]

I will step out a limb and say it's likely not the same guy. Do you wanna hazard a guess as how many white Crown Vics are running the roads? You can't fling a dead cat here in Tallahassee without it hitting a white Crown Vic, usually an ex-cop car.

[peacefuljeffrey]

They've got cop shocks, cop brakes, cop carburetor, cop motor, cop manifold, cop differential... Whatd'ya say? Is it the new thugmobile?