http://www.eagletribune.com/punews/local_story_051225448.html
LAWRENCE — The clerk of a Milton Street bodega opened fire on two robbers with a 9 mm handgun, missing them as they fled down the city sidewalk, police said.
The robbers escaped with an undetermined amount of cash, but the clerk and store owner could face charges, police Chief John Romero said yesterday.
Ruben Veras, 35, of Lawrence was in La Esperanza Market when the robbers entered about 8:30 p.m. Thursday.
The market at 64 Milton St., is owned by his cousin Felix Veras, 36, of Haverhill.
Ruben Veras said he grabbed the pistol from under the store counter, ran outside, and fired three rounds at the fleeing robbers, police said.
The gun is owned by Felix Veras, whom police said is legally licensed to have possession of the weapon. But because the gun was kept unlocked under the counter where unauthorized persons could get at it, Felix Veras could face up to one year in jail and a $500 to $5,000 fine if convicted on charges of improper storage of a firearm.
Ruben Veras could face up to 10 years in state prison and a $1,000 fine if convicted on charges of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, one year in jail if convicted on charges of illegal possession of a firearm and 90 days in jail if convicted on charges of discharging a firearm within 500 feet of a building.
The robbers, if they are caught and convicted, face up to five years in state prison.
Romero said detectives will re-interview the men before any charges are filed.
Felix Veras told a reporter yesterday his store is in a "tough neighborhood," but declined to comment further, saying he was not comfortable doing so until he spoke to his insurance company and the police investigation is concluded.
Ruben Veras told police the men, one armed with a knife and one with a handgun, entered the store and demanded money. They both had their faces covered.
The man with the knife came around the counter and grabbed the drawer and dropped it on the floor scattering cash and coins on the floor. Veras told police the man with the knife grabbed the cash from the floor and an additional $600 he had placed in the penny gum holder behind the cash register.
He told police he was putting the money there when the men entered the store and may have seen him.
Veras told police the two men ran out of the store and headed south on Milton Street toward Providence Street.
He told police he grabbed the pistol and ran out the door, pointed the gun in the direction of the two men and fired two or three rounds.
But Veras told police he did not intend to shoot the two men.
However, Romero said, "If he didn't want to hit the men, why did he discharge the weapon?"
"You discharge a gun to protect yourself or someone else," Romero said, noting that the men were running away.
Romero said there was a woman inside the store at the time, and he did not know if there were many people around outside who could have been hit by a stray bullet.
Police seized the gun and when Felix Veras arrived at the store, took his firearms license as well, pending the investigation.
Witnesses described one of the robbers as in his late 20s, about 6 feet to 6 feet 2 inches tall, with a medium build and wearing a black rain jacket, blue jeans and a black knit ski mask, carrying a nickel-plated large frame revolver.
The second suspect was described as in his mid-20s, about 5 feet 4 inches tall, with a slim to average build, wearing a black jacket, blue jeans and a black ski mask, and carrying a small knife.
LAWRENCE — The clerk of a Milton Street bodega opened fire on two robbers with a 9 mm handgun, missing them as they fled down the city sidewalk, police said.
The robbers escaped with an undetermined amount of cash, but the clerk and store owner could face charges, police Chief John Romero said yesterday.
Ruben Veras, 35, of Lawrence was in La Esperanza Market when the robbers entered about 8:30 p.m. Thursday.
The market at 64 Milton St., is owned by his cousin Felix Veras, 36, of Haverhill.
Ruben Veras said he grabbed the pistol from under the store counter, ran outside, and fired three rounds at the fleeing robbers, police said.
The gun is owned by Felix Veras, whom police said is legally licensed to have possession of the weapon. But because the gun was kept unlocked under the counter where unauthorized persons could get at it, Felix Veras could face up to one year in jail and a $500 to $5,000 fine if convicted on charges of improper storage of a firearm.
Ruben Veras could face up to 10 years in state prison and a $1,000 fine if convicted on charges of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, one year in jail if convicted on charges of illegal possession of a firearm and 90 days in jail if convicted on charges of discharging a firearm within 500 feet of a building.
The robbers, if they are caught and convicted, face up to five years in state prison.
Romero said detectives will re-interview the men before any charges are filed.
Felix Veras told a reporter yesterday his store is in a "tough neighborhood," but declined to comment further, saying he was not comfortable doing so until he spoke to his insurance company and the police investigation is concluded.
Ruben Veras told police the men, one armed with a knife and one with a handgun, entered the store and demanded money. They both had their faces covered.
The man with the knife came around the counter and grabbed the drawer and dropped it on the floor scattering cash and coins on the floor. Veras told police the man with the knife grabbed the cash from the floor and an additional $600 he had placed in the penny gum holder behind the cash register.
He told police he was putting the money there when the men entered the store and may have seen him.
Veras told police the two men ran out of the store and headed south on Milton Street toward Providence Street.
He told police he grabbed the pistol and ran out the door, pointed the gun in the direction of the two men and fired two or three rounds.
But Veras told police he did not intend to shoot the two men.
However, Romero said, "If he didn't want to hit the men, why did he discharge the weapon?"
"You discharge a gun to protect yourself or someone else," Romero said, noting that the men were running away.
Romero said there was a woman inside the store at the time, and he did not know if there were many people around outside who could have been hit by a stray bullet.
Police seized the gun and when Felix Veras arrived at the store, took his firearms license as well, pending the investigation.
Witnesses described one of the robbers as in his late 20s, about 6 feet to 6 feet 2 inches tall, with a medium build and wearing a black rain jacket, blue jeans and a black knit ski mask, carrying a nickel-plated large frame revolver.
The second suspect was described as in his mid-20s, about 5 feet 4 inches tall, with a slim to average build, wearing a black jacket, blue jeans and a black ski mask, and carrying a small knife.
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