Posted on 03/04/2006 9:38:58 PM PST by Big E
Authorities to consider charges against man
By Keith Mayer Reading Eagle
A Reading shopkeeper on Friday fatally shot a knife-wielding man who had robbed him of an undetermined amount of money, city police said. Gregorio Zarzuela, 58, the owner of Gregory's Market, 12th and Green streets, ran out the front door, turned and fired once at the fleeing robber about 12:30 p.m., investigators said.
Zarzuela killed the man, who fell face up onto the sidewalk on the west side of the street, authorities said.
Officials had not determined the identity of the dead man; he was checked for identification, but had none.
An autopsy is scheduled for today in Lehigh Valley Hospital near Allentown.
Police took Zarzuela; his son, Hector, 34; and a store patron to City Hall for questioning. They seized Gregorio Zarzuela's weapon, which he was licensed to carry, police said.
“The suspect was not known to the owner,” said Sgt. Guy Lehman of the criminal investigations division.
Lehman said investigators would gather information and present it to the district attorney's office next week to determine if charges would be filed.
Lehman advised shop owners not be as aggressive during robberies as Gregorio Zarzuela had been.
“Comply with the robber's demands and call police,” he said. “I wouldn't suggest confronting these people (robbers).”
Friday's incident was the second time this year that a city shop owner took action against a robber.
On Jan. 20, Carlos Carrion used a baseball bat to attack a robber inside Denisse Grocery Store, 226 W. Douglass St. The robber, who had a shotgun, was injured but escaped, police said.
No charges have been filed.
Police gave this account of Friday's holdup at Gregory's Market:
The man went to the counter, pulled out a knife and demanded money.
Gregorio Zarzuela opened the cash drawer and gave money to the robber. The robber ran out and south on 12th Street.
Zarzuela got a gun, but police did not say from where, and ran outside.
Patrol division Sgt. Joseph M. Cafoncelli said he was driving east on Green Street and turned onto 12th when Hector Zarzuela ran toward him and said the store had just been robbed.
Cafoncelli saw the robber lying on the sidewalk and radioed for an ambulance.
Cafoncelli walked to the gunshot victim.
“He didn't say anything to me,” Cafoncelli said.
Gregorio Zarzuela did not return to the store after questioning.
Even if he lived, the perp should have been charged with bringing a knife to a gun fight.
Shop keeper deserves an award.
I agree that the perp was wrong, but this is going to be a sticky situation IMO considering what (little) I know about most laws pertaining to self-defense.
I'm thinking it might have been better to shoot the POS in the store but I wasn't there so I'll leave it at that.
Did the shopkeeper get his money back?
Self defense? ping
PA's laws on defense suck. My state. Makes me ashamed.
Another bedtime story with a happy ending ping
Good shoot'n Tex! The dude was running and everything. That's a pretty good shot for a shop keeper.
When is this stupid mentality going to die?
Every time a citizen, shopkeeper, homeowner "complies" with the robbers, not only that robber but all of his lowlife pals are further emboldened to commit the same kind of crimes.
Yet every time the same kind of citizen, shopkeeper, homeowner take immediate action to defend his property or life, or the lives of his family, the Dudly-Dooright Dingalings calling themselves police, haul out the same tired mantra...
The ONLY thing this guy did wrong, IMHO, is let the POS out of the store and shoot him as he ran away. It would have been better for all concerned if the immediate response to his demand for money had been an immediate lead injection -- but I wasn't there, like the poster above said -- so I can't really call that a legitimate beef.
If he isn't charged (which would be justice) one thing is for sure. Robbers are not going to mess around with his store in the future.
Well said.
Exactly, the robber was no longer a threat, the shop owner could be charged with manslaughter. Tough call, but the shop owner also endangered the public.
If the shop owner does not plead out, a trial will probably result in guilty verdict, with probation. Don't know the mandatories in that state, if the shop owner has a record he could get a few years.
Robbers in that town better pay attention, the risk factor has certainly gone up.
As serious as this sh*t is, you made me laugh out loud. F'n 'ay. Thanks.
My guess is that it's Jesus. A former co-worker tells me that it seems like Jesus is killed in Reading every month.
Just bend over and hope they don't kill you for kicks on the way out. I'd like to see one friggin cop take their own stupid advice.
The notion that someone should let a violent felon go because he is no longer a threat to his current victim is pathetic. I say get them whenever and however you can and save their future victims and their families grief. The law has got to change on this one.
Pennsylvania Constitution, Article I, Section 21:
The right of the citizens to bear arms in defense of themselves and the State shall not be questioned.
However, that does not grant the right to chase down someone and shoot him.
Yes, I know. PA ain't Texas.
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