Shreveport, Louisiana



From the Shreveport Times of January 15, 2004

Store co-owner shoots alleged armed robber



Four hours after shooting the man who allegedly was robbing his family-owned gas station at gunpoint, Elvir Cehajic praised God for the one thing he was most thankful for Wednesday evening - his life.



"I'm just happy to be alive and to be with my family."



The 36-year-old reportedly fired two shots as a man took money from a cash register at Citgo at Line Avenue at East 70th Street in Shreveport about 11:30 a.m. Wednesday.



"He came in and pointed a gun at my head," Cehajic said. "It seemed like eternity, but it was just for a minute."



The robber fled with someone who was waiting behind the store in a brown Chevrolet Malibu, Shreveport police Detective Lane Smith said.



Minutes later, police responded to a call at a residence in the 7300 block of Altus Loop regarding a man who had been shot.



They reportedly found Brandon Young, 19, of Shreveport with a single gunshot wound to his chest.



Young has been charged with armed robbery. He remained in LSU Hospital in Shreveport, where he was listed in fair condition Wednesday evening, Smith said.



"I'm glad that (he) is alive and not in life-threatening condition," Cehajic said. "Hopefully, he will learn something out of this."



Cehajic has not been charged.



"Right now, it looks like it is going to be a justifiable shooting," police spokeswoman Kacee Hargrave said.

UPDATE (from Clayton): Also covered by January 14, 2004 KTBS Channel 3 TV.