Asbury Park, New Jersey

From the Asbury Park Press of August 17, 2006

Police: Asbury Park store clerk shoots robber during scuffle

Suspect, hit in stomach, sustains "significant wound"

A Long Branch man who recently served 30 months in prison for an attempted murder in Florida tried to rob the Super Discount store at 700 Main St. Tuesday night but was shot in the stomach during a struggle with the store clerk, police said.

Adrian Miller, 23, walked into the store about 6 p.m. with a handgun, Detective Capt. Anthony Salerno said. During the attempted robbery, the store clerk, Wonil Pak, 59, of Ocean Township confronted Miller. They struggled, and the gun went off with three shots fired, one of which hit Miller in the abdomen, Salerno said.

Miller fled the store on foot and made it a few blocks before he collapsed in the 1100 block of First Avenue, Salerno said. Police found Miller there after being alerted by someone at the store. One of Miller's shoes had come off and was left in the store, Salerno said. Miller was rushed to Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune.

"He sustained a very significant wound, but at this time his condition is stable," Salerno said about 4 p.m. Wednesday.

Miller is charged with armed robbery, aggravated assault, unlawful possession of a weapon, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, and possession of a weapon by certain persons, meaning, in this case, possession by a convicted felon, Salerno said.

Miller is under guard in the hospital, with bail set at $355,000 bail. Salerno said Miller was convicted in Florida in 2003 of first-degree attempted murder. He was sentenced to three years and served 85 percent of his time, Salerno said.

Miller also was arrested last week in Jersey City and charged with weapons possession, Salerno said.