Grand Rapids, Michigan

From the The Grand Rapids Press of October 14, 2006

Store worker kills alleged thief

A man was shot dead by an Alger Heights Foods employee after the man and two others allegedly tried to rob the market Friday night. Police Capt. Curt Vanderkooi said three men entered the store just before the 10 p.m. closing time and attempted to rob the store when an employee shot one of the men, who was pronounced dead at an area hospital. Vanderkooi said a preliminary investigation indicates the store employee fired in self-defense, and a handgun was found on the dead man. The other two men fled from the store, possibly in a white car. Witness Kris Hart, 18, said he saw the men leave the store, and one appeared to be limping.

From Grand Rapids’ WOODtv.com of October 18, 2006

Store manager cleared in fatal robbery case

No charges will be brought against a Grand Rapids store manager who fatally shot a man during an attempted robbery.

Around 10 p.m. Friday, three men walked into Alger Heights Foods at Alger Street and Eastern Avenue and attempted to rob the business.

The suspects tied up employees and put them in a back room. The store manager pulled out his gun and shot one of the robbers, Michael Sams of Chicago, who had a gun. The other two men fled the scene and are still on the run.

Kent County Prosecutor William Forsyth says he reviewed the police report and surveillance video taken inside the store during the incident and made his decision relatively quickly. He told 24 Hour News 8 the store manager was protecting his own life and the lives of his coworkers.

"In his case it's self defense and it's also defense of others. ...The hero tag gets put on a lot of people and I think it gets overused. But what he did was pretty heroic here," Forsyth said.

Forsyth says the store manager had a concealed weapons permit, but he really didn't need it, as you can legally keep a gun in your place of business or home.