Hurst, Texas

From the Dallas Morning News of February 2, 2006

Suspect killed, clerk wounded in Hurst holdup

A gunman who police say robbed a convenience store four times times since July attempted a fifth robbery late Wednesday.

This time, the robbery ended with the gunman's death during an exchange of gunfire with the store's owner, police said.

The robber, whose name has not been released, was found dead behind the H.E.B. Food Mart in the 1600 block of Sotogrande Blvd.

He collapsed after being shot in the chest by the store’s owner, said Assistant Police Chief Richard Winstanley.

The owner was not wounded but a store clerk was shot in the lower back and right arm. The clerk was taken to Harris Methodist Fort Worth and is in good condition, officials said.

"They knew who he was when he walked in the store," Chief Winstanley said.

The gunman ran after he was shot and collapsed near a fence he had scaled behind the store, police said.

Police believe the same man was armed on July 12 when he entered the store and stole money along with the owner's gun. The gunman, police said, returned Dec. 22, Jan. 5 and again on Jan. 9 using the owner's weapon in all of those robberies.

Police set up surveillance at the store and for three weeks there were no holdups, he said.

Around 11 p.m. Wednesday, the armed robber returned as the store was about to close.

“It was the same m.o.,” Chief Winstanley said. “It got to the point [where] the owner knew what to expect.”

No charges have been filed.

The case will be sent to the Tarrant County district attorney’s office for review, Chief Winstanley said.