Posted: 10/20/2009 5:51:07 AM EDT
|
linkYOU ARE HERE: CJOnline » News » Local Person shot in robbery dies Photos PHIL ANDERSON/THE CAPITAL-JOURNAL Topeka police responded to the scene of a robbery and shooting Monday night at the Cormier Liquor store, 2611 S.E. California. | EMAIL | PRINT | COMMENT | SHARE By Phil Anderson Created October 19, 2009 at 9:55pm Updated October 20, 2009 at 12:23am A shooting during an armed robbery Monday night at a Highland Park liquor store left one person dead and capped a Wild West-type of day in the capital city. Five armed robberies had been recorded by 11 p.m., four to businesses and one to an individual. Additionally, a failed robbery attempt took place at a payday loan business on the south side of Topeka. No injuries were reported in any of the first four robberies or the attempted heist, but that wasn't the case with the fifth incident, which was reported just after 8 p.m. Topeka police were called at 8:11 p.m. to the Cormier Liquor store, 2611 S.E. California, on a report of an armed robbery in which a shooting occurred. Police Sgt. Shane Lind said "two suspects entered the business" and "one fled" the scene. Lind said one of the suspects was taken to a Topeka hospital by American Medical Response ambulance. That individual died from his wounds, police said late Thursday night. The victim was shot by someone inside the business, police said, though the shooter's identity wasn't immediately available. While investigating the robbery and shooting at the liquor store, officers at 8:35 p.m. received a call that an injured person was knocking on doors in the 2700 block of S.E. Colorado. After the report, Lind said, officers canvassed the area, which was about a block south and a block west of the liquor store. A dog trail also was run and the police helicopter was called to the area, circling overhead for more than a half hour. The second suspect in the robbery hadn't been located as of 11 p.m. Monday. Lind said the owners of the liquor store were present at the time of the robbery. They were taken to police headquarters for questioning, along with several customers who were inside the business at the time of the robbery. The store was closed to customers and yellow crime scene tape placed around it minutes after police arrived at the scene. The police department's Crime Scene Investigation unit was on the scene for more than two hours after the robbery was reported. As detectives collected evidence inside the business, several bottles could be seen lying on the store's floor near the front counter. Shawnee County District Attorney Chad Taylor was on the scene about 8:45 p.m. Additional details about the robbery weren't available late Monday night. Earlier Monday, four other robberies to businesses were reported. –– The first robbery of the day took place about 10:30 a.m. at the Akin's Natural Food Market, 2913 S.W. 29th, in the Brookwood Shopping Center. –– Police were sent about two hours later to the EZ Payday Advance store, 2620 S.W. 6th, after it had been robbed at gunpoint. –– A man was robbed at gunpoint about 4:10 p.m. at the Traveller's Inn motel, 3846 S.W. Topeka Blvd. –– The Econ-O-Wash laundromat, 3156 S.E. 6th in the Deer Creek Shopping Center, was held up about 4:15 p.m. –– An attempted robbery was reported about 5:30 p.m. at the Advance America Cash Advance store, 3258 S.W. Topeka Blvd. That attempt was thwarted when the robber found the doors to the business were locked. Employees inside the business told police the man said something to them and resembled the person who robbed the business on Thursday. The city has seen a rash of armed robberies in recent weeks, including at another pay-day cash advance business near S.W. 21st and Randolph on Oct. 12 and at a gas station at S.W. 29th and Randolph on Thursday –– about a block from the Akin's food store that was held up Monday. Additionally, two video stores have been robbed at gunpoint in recent weeks. Police are investigating whether any of the robberies are related. Anyone with information may call police detectives at (785) 368-9400 or Crime Stoppers at (785) 234-0007. Phil Anderson can be reached at (785) 295-1195 or [email protected]. 28 comments | 4 min 21 sec ago EMAIL | PRINT | COMMENT | SHARE ..Rate This |