Aug 14, 2008 7:32 pm US/Central
Jewelry Store Owner Who Fired Gun Speaks
CHICAGO (CBS) ―
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Store owner Sergio Vazquez survived an attempted robbery at his jewelry store by opening fire.
CBS
A jeweler in Marquette Park speaks about a gunfight in his store. Sergio V. Jewelry was closed today, but the longtime business owner opened up his doors to CBS 2's Mike Puccinelli.
Sergio Vazquez patches up bullet holes in the walls of his store. And there are a lot of them to fill.
There were shots through the windows, through the walls and through the door. It's the aftermath of a gunfight between the store owner Sergio Vazquez and two robbers who were buzzed into the store yesterday around 6 p.m.
After making their way into the store, the men jumped over separate counters and pulled out guns.
"The other guy jumped by the other showcase with a gun and he said, 'Give me the gun or I'll kill you,'" Vazquez said.
Vazquez says he went for the money but before he could get it he says he heard a shot. So instead of grabbing the money, he says he grabbed his gun, which was hidden next to the cash.
"By the time I hear the shot, I take the gun and we start shooting," Vazquez said.
Vazquez says it was a shootout at close range.
"I'm over there, the guy was over there," he said.
When the smoke cleared, both robbers had been shot. One stumbled out of the store and collapsed in the street. The other fell to the floor of the store. A store employee was caught in the crossfire.
"Unfortunately the jeweler got shot, but he's alive and kicking, said Manuel Vazquez, store owner's son.
A passing motorist was also hit by a stray bullet.
Sergio Vazquez says instinct took over after he heard the first shot. He's says he's fortunate to be alive.
"Yeah, I'm lucky because I tried to protect the two customers over here," Vazquez said.
The two suspects are in custody, but have not yet been charged because they are still being treated in hospitals. The employee has been treated and released. The passerby is in stable condition.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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