DA: Store Workers Justified In Killing 2 Robbery Suspects
READING, Pa. (AP) — An eastern Pennsylvania prosecutor says a pair of convenience store workers were justified in shooting to death two of three masked men during a robbery over the weekend.
Berks County District Attorney John Adams said no charges would be filed in the shooting inside Latino's Meat Market in Reading.
"The use of force in this situation was legal and justified," Adams said Monday, calling the case one of self-defense and his decision "simple and easy."
Authorities said the one of the masked men was armed with a pistol, which he fired in the store, and the second had a stun gun when the trio stormed into the store at about 11 p.m. Saturday. Surveillance video showed the gunman jumping over the counter.
"He came in with guns blazing," Adams said.
Officials said that at some point during the robbery, the two workers pulled weapons and fired, hitting two of the three masked men. Raul Nieves-Hernandez, 21, was pronounced dead at the scene, authorities said. The other man, identified by the county coroner's office as Shavezz Coe, 39, was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
The third man grabbed cash from the register and fled. Adams said he will face robbery and felony murder when he is apprehended.
Reading Police Chief William Heim had words of caution for residents taking similar action in such circumstances.
"I can't advise citizens all the time to use such force," he said. "If it goes wrong, there are really dire consequences, but in this case it worked out."
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