Southfield, Michigan

From Livonia’s HomeTownLife.com of May 18, 2006

One suspect hit, two sought in store shoot-out

With any luck, the two men who were thwarted when trying to rob a Southfield convenience store might be easy to find.

They might have been wounded, according to Detective John Harris, spokesman for the Southfield police. "And all hospitals and doctors are required to notify authorities when they treat a gunshot wound," he said.

On the other hand, the two men may have been lucky and escaped without any bullet wounds -- even though a dozen or more shots were exchanged just before 1 a.m. Sunday, when they tried to rob the Franklin Liquor and Deli in the 28500 block of Franklin.

"Everybody was pretty excited," said Harris, "so maybe their marksmanship wasn't that good."

The marksmanship of the owner, 29, and his 23-year-old clerk from West Bloomfield, was, however, good enough that a third would-be robber was hit three times, including once in the buttocks.

He was identified as Jason Scott Klemas, 24, of Romulus who stood mute when arraigned Monday at a hospital bed in Providence Hospital. A plea of not guilty was entered on his behalf by Magistrate Eugene Friedman who set bond at $50,000.

Klemas is charged with armed robbery and being a felon in possession of a firearm and possessing a firearm in the commission of a felony. He is scheduled for a pre-examination conference at 8:30 a.m. Friday before 46th District Court Judge Stephen Cooper.

The gunfire erupted, Harris said, after the three suspects walked into the convenience store and ordered everybody on the floor.

The owner and clerk were apprehensive, said the detective, and in fear for their lives. "I believe they thought they would be executed, so they each grabbed guns (both registered) and opened fire," he said.

Neither the owner nor the clerk were available at the store Thursday. "They're still pretty shaken up," another clerk said, "and I don't think they'll be back for a while."

Klemas is the only person known to have been injured, Harris said.