Attempted robber still on the loose

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) - No one is in custody after an attempted robbery on Indian Lakes Boulevard in Virginia Beach, Wednesday night.

Police spokesperson Jimmy Barnes told WAVY.com a clerk who shot at an armed suspect “has not been charged and given the circumstances charges are not anticipated.”

Police said the clerk at the Indian Lakes Food Mart saw an armed man who was wearing a mask and a hooded sweatshirt, walk into the store. The clerk grabbed his own weapon and fired one shot that missed the armed man and hit a metal rack.

"I was up all night last night," said store owner Sam Saeed.  "I was concerned about my morning crew and concerned about my night crew as well."

Saeed said his surveillance cameras captured the moment the suspect ran into the store with his gun drawn. "It looks like a very young kid, and carrying a firearm, it's very dangerous for our community."

Saeed said he's invested a lot in security measures to keep his employees safe, but this robbery attempt has really shaken everyone, including him.  "It's my life and I am the only provider for my whole family. I have three young kids and a wife to support and I am the only one."

Long time customers told WAVY.com they thought the shot was a score for the “good guys.”

Roderick Brummer said, “I think it was absolutely wonderful. Not that I'm for capitol punishment or anything, but you have to deter these kids some kind of way. If they don't have any fear about doing something, they're going to keep doing it.”

Lux Jameson added, “Fortunately for him he got away, but I hope the cops catch him and arrest him and prosecute him.”

Police are working on solving the attempt, and more than a dozen other commercial armed robberies in the city this month . One happened at the Indian Lakes Food Mart on January 10th. It's appalling to those who consider the owner a great neighbor.

“Tries to do anything he can for anyone in the community so it's a shame for anybody to you know want to even attempt to rob them,” Brummer said.

Customers want the shot the clerk fired to be a deterrent for any other would-be robbers.

“I think they did what they had to do. I hope they don't have any problems – legally. Because they have a right to self-defense and I wish them the best,” Jameson said.

Barnes said Virginia Beach Police never advise anyone to challenge an armed suspect.