Mooresville, Indiana

From the Martinsville Reporter-Times of May 28, 2006

Shot fired during robbery attempt

Mooresville jewelry store owner fires gun after robber enters with weapon; no one injured

A Mooresville business was reportedly the target of an armed robber Friday night, but the owner fired first.

According to Mooresville Police Department preliminary reports, the owner of Hasting’s Jewelry, 354 S. Indiana St., saw a man walk up to the entrance of his store shortly before 6 p.m.

The man pulled a red hood over his face, took out a handgun and entered the store. The owner, who was not identified, also had a handgun. As the man entered the store, the owner stood up with his weapon.

Officers said the robber told the owner, “Don’t do it, man, I’ll kill you.”

According to police, the owner then discharged his weapon, striking the top of a display case. The bullet ricocheted off a large pair of scissors, then went out a window.

After the shot, the would-be robber fled the business. Police said a witness saw a man leaving the business and getting into a red or maroon Chevrolet Trail Blazer or Suburban.

The vehicle then reportedly headed west on Ind. 42. The witness told officers the license plate had the numbers “2181” on it.

The man was described as white, and between 6-foot-3 and 6-foot-5. His weapon was described as a 1911 .45-caliber stainless steel handgun.

Officers were unsuccessful in finding the bullet that went through the window.

The owner hit a panic button, and officers were at his store within a minute of the call.