Tacoma, Washington

From Seattle’s KING5.com of September 29, 2005

Two shot during Tacoma robbery attempt

Two people were taken to a Tacoma hospital Thursday morning after a shooting during a robbery attempt an auto supply store.

Tacoma Police say a man walked into the Schucks Auto Supply store at 72nd and Portland and began putting gasoline into a mini motorcycle on display in the store.

A clerk confronted the man, who pulled a gun and attempted to rob the store. A customer then pulled his own gun and told the suspect to drop his gun. Shots were fired and the suspect was hit.

A store clerk was struck by an errant round.

Police were investigating.

The condition of the two people taken to the hospital was not immediately known.

From the Tacoma News-Tribune of September 30, 2005

Two injured in gunfight that interrupts robbery

A Tacoma man who went to an auto parts store to help a friend fix her car Thursday found himself trading gunfire with a would-be robber, shooting the gunman several times, police said. A clerk at the store was hit in the crossfire.

Both the 21-year-old man who witnesses said tried to rob the store and the clerk – a woman in her 30s – are expected to live.

The man who pulled out his gun to stop the robbery – Joe Phillips – was not hurt. Phillips, the father of a 12-year-old daughter, was interviewed by detectives Thursday morning and released. There are no plans to arrest him, police spokesman Mark Fulghum said.

“When someone points a gun at you, you have a right to defend yourself,” Fulghum said. “From what we hear, he told the guy to put down his gun. He gave him warnings.”

(More--mostly previously reported detail)