CHICAGO, IL -In a response to an attempted robbery, a jewelry store employee turned the tables on a would-be thief in Chicago’s bustling Loop area, leaving the assailant with more than he bargained for. The incident, which took place shortly before 11 a.m. on Saturday in the first block of North Wabash, ended with the suspect fleeing the scene, wounded but empty-handed.
Chicago police report that the 27-year-old alleged robber burst into the store with intentions to smash into a jewelry case. However, he was met with the determined resistance of a store employee, who is also a licensed concealed carry gun owner. In a decisive act of self-defense, the employee drew their firearm and fired at the intruder, hitting him in both the buttocks and abdomen.
The bungled robbery attempt quickly turned into a chaotic escape as the injured suspect made a desperate dash outside. His flight led him to the Washington-Wabash L station, where, in a dramatic turn, he collapsed into a train car. Authorities were quick to respond, finding the man at the station and promptly transporting him to Northwestern Memorial Hospital, where his condition was stabilized.
The employee, heralded for their quick thinking and courage, was taken to Area Three headquarters for a comprehensive debriefing. This act of self-defense has spotlighted the role of armed citizens in preventing crime and safeguarding their places of work.
Good for her and I’m glad it turned out well but take notice of her actions at the very beginning of the event. She had to work the action on her gun twice before she could shoot. My interpretation is that she did not have a round in the chamber and had to load the gun, then in the stress of the moment, she short-stroked the slide on the first try. I applaud her actions to defend herself but if the bad guy had been pointing a gun directly at her when she had to work the action twice, it could have turned out differently for her. Just an observation, and it looks like she got the gun from under the counter, so she may have kept it unloaded for safety, but it highlights the potential problems with not keeping a round in the chamber.