Off-Duty Florida Officer Shoots Robbery Suspect
After police stopped an armed robbery of Family Dollar Store at Gateway Town Center by shooting a rifle-carrying man, detectives were investigating the possibility of links to five other Family Dollar heists this year.
An off-duty police officer working at a next-door Walgreens shot the robber early Sunday. Police then caught a second man who ran from the store, authorities said.
Police arrested Jacksonville residents Edward J. Littleton, 22, and Frederick V. Jennings, 17.
Littleton was treated for gunshot injuries at Shands Jacksonville and booked into jail Sunday.
The Sheriff's Office put Officer G.W. Germann, who fired at Littleton, on administrative leave, which is the policy while reviewing whether the use of deadly force was justified.
The robbery happened at about 4:45 a.m. when the store, located at 5290 Norwood Ave., was closed to customers but had some employees working in it.
While a delivery truck driver was unloading goods near the rear entrance, two masked men entered the back door and ordered a small number of employees to hand over money from a cash room in the store, police said.
The robbers did not realize they'd been seen by the truck driver, who went to the Walgreens and told Germann what was happening.
When the robber with a rifle walked toward the front window of the store, Germann shot him, police said.
Copyright 2011 - The Florida Times-Union, Jacksonville
McClatchy-Tribune News Service