A store owner shot a suspected robber twice in the torso as he tried to get away with cash from his registers on Sunday, the San Diego Police Department said.
The attempted robbery happened at 10:40 a.m. Sunday when a man in his early 20s, later identified as Hector Lopez-Gastelum, entered a business in the 1700 block of Vesta Street, said SDPD Officer S. Foster.
Lopez-Gastelum allegedly produced a handgun and demanded money from the cash register, Foster said. The owner, a 40-year-old man, opened the register and gave him the money.
“The suspect went to the second cash register and demanded money from that register,” the officer said. “As the suspect was turning to leave, the owner produced a handgun and challenged the suspect. The suspect turned toward the owner, and the owner shot the suspect twice.”
The store owner retrieved the handgun, SDPD said.
After the shooting, the alleged robber was taken to a hospital, Foster said. The injuries do not appear to be life-threatening.
He was placed under arrest and is scheduled to be arraigned.
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SDPD is investigating whether Lopez-Gastelum was involved in any other robberies in the area.
