More news to file under- Why I hate thieves -
Too bad the laws in Kalifornia are so bad only criminals carry guns- a greater probability they would have been ventilated if this happened here...
Shoe shop owner, 85, critically injured in Fresno gun store robberyThe Fresno Bee December 5, 2014
A brazen robbery Thursday, Dec. 4, 2014 of a Fresno gun store left a victim who was doing nothing more than his usual kindness. George “Georgio” Sheklian, 85, was delivering coffee to his neighbor when he was pushed to the ground as two robbery suspects ran from Fresno Firearms. Sheklian suffered critical injuries when he hit his head on the concrete outside the gun store.
More of the story and a video of robbery here:
http://www.fresnobee.com/2014/12/05/4271866_shoe-shop-owner-85-critically.html?rh=1#storylink=cpyThursday’s brazen robbery of a Fresno gun store left a victim who was doing nothing more than his usual kindness: 85-year-old George “Georgio” Sheklian.
He was doing what he always does, bringing a cup of coffee to his business neighbor, when Sheklian was shoved to the concrete outside Fresno Firearms, suffering critical injuries.
Sheklian was opening the gun shop door when the two masked, armed men darted out. They were toting 13 handguns worth $7,000 and knocked the shoe repair shop owner backwards and onto the pavement.
Thinking of the robbery, Tony said, “It’s a shame — especially what happened to him (Sheklian). That’s the worst part. He was a totally innocent person, bystander — it’s just hard. Crimes are on the rise, we know that.”
Fresno police Chief Jerry Dyer knows it, too. The robbery came just a day after Dyer held a news conference to announce that he is increasing enforcement over the next three weeks to crack down on gang violence. As of Monday, Dyer said there had been 29 shootings in the city over the past three weeks — the majority by gang members.
During Thursday’s robbery, Panek said the armed men pointed guns at her and then “threw me on the floor.” She said they pushed her and she “pushed back” as she tried to defend the gun shop her late husband opened 20 years ago.
But the unknown suspects quickly ran with the stolen guns. A white Cadillac was seen leaving the scene southbound on Blackstone Avenue at a high rate of speed, but police are not sure it was the suspects’ vehicle, Gomez said. Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (559) 498-STOP.
Panek said an unknown man also stole a handgun from her shop on Nov. 29 — darting out the door after she let him look at it. Robbers also broke into her shop in the middle of the night about four years ago, but all the guns were locked up, she said.
Once when Sheklian was younger, he disarmed some robbers who accosted him on the streets of Buenos Aires, Marashian said. But not this time. Not at 85.
Addressing the community, his son said, “Keep my dad in your prayers.”