SAN DIEGO — A robbery suspect was taken to a hospital Sunday after being shot twice by a store owner in the Shelltown area, according to San Diego police. The shooting was reported around 10:40 a.m. in the 1700 block of Vesta Street.
Police said a man in his early 20s tried to rob a market and taco shop business called La Michoacana at gunpoint. He reportedly demanded money from two cash registers which the person working at the store - later identified as the 40-year-old owner - handed over. As the suspect was turning to leave, the business owner reportedly produced a handgun, challenged the suspect, and ended up shooting the man twice. The suspect sustained gunshot wounds to the chest and the wrist, according to police.
The suspect was taken to a nearby hospital for surgery but his injuries did not appear to be life-threatening, police said.
According to the San Diego Union-Tribune, police were investigating whether the suspect was connected to two armed robberies that happened in National City earlier Sunday.
One robbery occurred around 8:20 a.m. and involved a victim who had just gotten cash from an ATM at the Bank of America on Eighth St.; the other happened at Texas Liquor on Harbinson Avenue around 9 a.m., according to the U-T report.
San Diego police robbery detectives are investigating the incident. Anyone with information encouraged to call Crime Stoppers at 888-580-8477.
