Authorities say Melvin Phillips walked into a Metairie convenience store early Saturday morning with the intention of robbing the place. But the only thing he got away with was a couple of bullet wounds.
Phillips, 33, was still hospitalized as of Tuesday after a clerk at the store opened fire and shot him "multiple times" in the torso, according to Sgt. Larry Dyess, spokesman for the Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office. Once released, Phillips will be booked with attempted armed robbery.
The would-be holdup occurred in the 100 block of David Drive, an arrest report said. The suspect, later identified as Phillips, walked in around 4:40 a.m. and asked for a pack of cigarettes.
The clerk obliged. But instead of paying up, Phillips placed his wallet and a cell phone on the counter then demanded not only the cigarettes, but all of the money in the register, the arrest report said. Phillips revealed what appeared to be a large-caliber black semi-automatic pistol tucked into the waistband of his pants. Phillips threatened to shoot the clerk if he didn't comply, the report said......
