PROSPECT, Conn. (WTNH) - Officials were called just before 7:00pm Friday night to 69 Waterbury Road in Prospect.

Two suspects attempted to rob the Route 69 Auto Sales & Service.

The suspects started pistol whipping people inside the store.

A third person inside the store, who lawfully owned a gun, shot and killed one of the suspects.

The second suspect took off from the scene and is still on the loose.

According to officials, on Friday around 6:50 p.m., officials received reports of an armed robbery and assault at Route 69 Auto Sales and Service at 69 Waterbury Road.

Authorities said two masked men armed with handguns entered the business and began to physically assault the employees.

A customer then allegedly drew his legally registered firearm and shot toward the assailants.

The two suspects ran and police provided medical care to those at the scene.

Officers then located one of the assailants, 44-year-old Torrance Battle of Waterbury, suffering from gunshot wounds near the business. He was pronounced deceased by paramedics.

Officials said the second suspect was not located.

The incident remains under investigation.

News 8 is learning new details about a suspect shot and killed during an armed robbery at a Prospect business Friday night.

According to State Police, on Friday just before 7 p.m., officials received reports of an armed robbery and assault at Route 69 Auto Sales and Service at 69 Waterbury Road.

Troopers said two masked men armed with handguns entered the business and began to physically assault the employees.

Ioannis Kaloidis, who is representing the owner of Route 69 Auto Sales and some of the victims, said some employees were tied up in the back of the store with electrical wire while others were pistol whipped or had guns held to their heads.

A unidentified customer then allegedly drew his legally registered firearm and shot toward the suspects.

"He was carrying and he defended himself and quite frankly saved a lot of lives that night," Kaloidis said.  "My clients thought they were going to die and feel extremely grateful for this hero."

The two suspects ran and police provided medical care to those at the scene.  Multiple employees were taken to local hospitals to get stitches and staples.

"There was a lot of blood," Kaloidis said.  "They were banged up pretty good."

44-year-old Torrance Battle of Waterbury, died from a gunshot wound and was pronounced dead at the scene.

Battle has a lengthy criminal history including several convictions for violent crimes.

According to a lawyer familiar with his past cases, Battle had a previous conviction for conspiracy to commit murder in a scheme that tried to kill the stepfather of former UConn star and NBA Hall of Famer Ray Allen.

"These were some of the most serious crimes you could commit," Kaloidis said.  "Sexual assault in the first degree, criminal assault with a firearm, assault first degree and conspiracy to commit murder.  There are not many crimes more serious than what this guy already had on his rap sheet."