From MyFoxTampaBay of May 27, 2008
Pawn shop thief shot
Detectives say David Gardner did what he had to do. When a robber barged into his pawnshop with a baseball bat, smashing glass display cases and stealing whatever he could, Gardner grabbed a gun and opened fire.
The 51-year-old storeowner shot the suspect as he ran out the door. Investigators followed the suspect's blood trail through the parking lot, down the street and into the neighborhood nearby.
"It's definitely odd to see something like that around here," said neighbor Miguel Santiago. "When I woke up, I see helicopters everywhere, cops everywhere and they asked, did you see this guy running down?"
"This is very creepy," said neighbor Luz Feldman. "This is scary. Something has to be done."
Detectives scoured the scene and the neighborhood searching for the suspect, but they didn't have to go far. Within a few hours, detectives say the suspect, 20-year-old Willie Clarkson, turned up right across the street. They say he was bleeding from at least two gunshot wounds at the Briar Hill Apartments.
Clarkson's 16-year old girlfriend found him in her apartment, called his sisters, and then called 911.
"I'm glad they caught it before things got out of hand," said Briar Hill Apartments resident, Mary McGriff. "There are a lot of kids here. We have to keep them safe."
Paramedics rushed Clarkson to the hospital where deputies arrested him. He's charged with armed robbery. Detectives say he'll remain in the hospital until he's well enough to be transported to jail.
The owner of the pawnshop says nothing like this has happened before. He wasn't physically hurt but is still badly shaken. Neighbors are just glad he's okay.
"He's such a nice guy. He doesn't hurt nobody, so it's pretty much crazy for him," said neighbor Miguel Santiago.
"It's not fair. No. You should never go into a place and try to take something that doesn't belong to you in the first place," said neighbor Luz Feldman.
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