Posted on 12/22/2008 9:01:18 PM PST by JustTheTruth
A store owner shot by a would-be robber is expected to make a full recovery following a shootout Saturday night in Chandler.
Police said two men walked into Christopher Diamonds at Chandler Boulevard and Coronado just before 7 p.m.
One had a gun and apparently tried to rob the place.
Police said Christopher Diamonds is a family run business and only three people were in the store at the time, including the owner, his wife and his son.
Another employee was outside the business.
Police said the owner, Rusty Uptain, grabbed a gun to defend his family and store.
A gun battle ensued and both Uptain and one of the suspects, 46-year-old Kevin William Murray, was shot.
Police said Uptain was shot in the face, but is expected to be okay.
Murray reportedly jumped into a stolen pick-up truck and fled the scene.
A police officer spotted the truck and chased him to the 101 and Broadway in Tempe.
That's where they said Murray died. [As he drove away, he died from two shotgun blasts, received in the store.]
At about 8:15 p.m., a police dog tracked the scent of the second robber, 27-year-old Kenneth Wayne Simpson Jr.
Officers peeled out of the parking lot and caught Simpson a few blocks away near a wash. [Rusty slipped in his own blood and fell, still largely blinded from the mace, when he went back looking for the second robber - who was peeing his pants somewhere inside the store... this gave the second guy the opportunity to escape until the police caught him ...]
Police said the suspects did not steal anything. [No, but they did say they were going to kill everyone... until Rusty pulled out the 12 guage.]
Family spokesperson Nancy Uptain told ABC 15, "My brother-in-law is an incredible marksman he's a hunter and we're very gratefully for our gun rights because with him being able to have his own protection he was able to save his family."
"These men came in and they had full intentions of killing the family and taking the jewelry," she said.
"It hit his nose the side of his nose and the corner of his eye." [Reportedly, the bullet hit his thick jeweler's glasses, smashed them, and was deflected into his nose. It fell out in the towel he held to his face as he talked with the police later.]
Doctors are confident they are able to save not only Uptain's vision, but his eye.
"Now that we know my brother-in-law is ok and everything is handled we're opening and we're gonna try and continue in the Christmas spirit and just keep on going on."
The business has reopened since the incident. [What's a few shotgun blasts around the place among friends?]
Guns are an equalizer! I like them. Guns beat a knife every time! Even Kung Fu has a hard time with guns, unless you can catch the bullet in your teeth!
Ain’t it the truth!
And some more GREAT NEWS for Phoenix...Actor David Spade just donated $100K to the Phoenix P.D. so they wouldn’t have to fork over their own cash to buy assault rifles to combat the ever growing crime rate here in the Phoenix area.
Kudos to David Spade and God Bless the Phoenix P.D.
Chandler, AZ had some bad news over the last couple of years. About a year ago, a man robbed a Chandler bank and following a lengthy high speed chase by multiple law enforcement jurisdictions, the bank robber purposely veered his vehicle into an oncoming vehicle, killing himself and an innocent victim.
And then there was the Chandler rapist...Finally apprehended, thank God!!
Then there was the Chandler police officer who left his police K-9 in a hot vehicle, ultimately causing the dog’s death.
And now...Well, I can’t say this recent story is ALL bad news...But, what the heck’s going on in Chandler, AZ?
God Bless Mr.Uptain. Another American steps forward to defend himself against thuggery. After getting shot in the face by suspect #1 and shooting him, he goes looking for suspect #2!
It’s the barbarian invasion. Read Roman history. It will all make sense. It won’t be good but it will make sense.
My mother was born in Tempe and I still have second cousins in that part of Chandler that has not been take over by shopping malls. I’m in San Francisco but planning to move north next year. You might consider the same.
In the meantime, all I can say is good luck may God bless you and those you love. Merry Christmas.
Me too!
All you have to do is point a 12 gauge in the right direction! Some people couldn’t hit the broad side of a barn with a bazooka!
Merry Christmas!
Then the journalist will observe that life is more precious than material things and that people should not be allowed to have guns to avoid senseless killings such as this.
Merry Christmas to you And Have A Joyous New Year!
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