Anniston, Alabama

From Birmingham’s WIAT.com of April 13, 2006

Anniston Business Robbery

An Anniston business owner is in the clear after shooting a robbery suspect in self-defense. The robbers attempted to shakedown a pawnshop. Now, three are in jail and one's got a gunshot wound to remember it by.

The owner of the 202 Pawn Shop says four people charged in the attempted robbery worked as a team, trying to distract him while one stole some jewelry and ran out. Investigators say the bandits jumped into a car. The store owner, who didn't want to give his name, ran after them armed with a pistol and ready for action.

“He pulled up like he was gonna run over me and at that point I pulled down on him," said the owner.

One jumped out and ran into a dead-end alley behind the building.

"He couldn't get out so it was between me and him, you know, hit brick wall or me, and he tried to come through me and when he did that's when he pushed me back like, that's when I fired, pistol went off and evidently shot him in the foot," said the owner.

By that time, deputies had arrived along with paramedics.

Calhoun County Sheriff Larry Amerson said, “He was carried to the hospital, they did some minor surgery to remove the bullet from the foot…that has now been recovered and will be used as evidence."
Amerson says Alabama law already covers such a situation.

“That man had a right to use his weapon in self-protection and he did so and from everything we can see he faces no legal liability for that," said Amerson.

One of the four people involved in the incident has already made her $500 bond on a lesser offense. The remaining three are all still in jail on $75,000 bond.