Austin, Texas



From Austin's KXAN.com of February 19, 2004:

Jewelry Courier Robbed In North Austin



A mid-day jewelry heist lead to a shoot out and Austin Police SWAT team storming a hotel. It all happened in North Austin just after 12 p.m. Thursday.



Police say an early afternoon ambush outside an Americus Diamond store erupted in gunfire between a jewelry dealer and three men he says were trying to steal his jewels. He asked News 36 not to use his name for his own protection.



Police say no one was hit.



"We think the courier was targeted on this. We think he was definitely the person that they were looking for. They had information on him," APD spokesman Kevin Buchman said.



The lunch crowd next to the jewelry store was looking for cover when the shots rang out. Witnesses heard a half-dozen shots.



"I didn't know what was going on. All I saw was a gun, heard the gunshots and I just tried to get down," witness Katrina Hutchins said.



Police say the three suspects, all Hispanic males, got away with an undisclosed amount of jewels, fleeing to a nearby motel.