Police: Harlem business owner kills 2 suspects
NEW YORK - NEW YORK (AP) — A 72-year-old man turned a 12-gauge shotgun on four armed bandits who tried to hold up his restaurant supply store in Harlem Thursday, killing two and wounding the others, police said.
Charles Augusto Jr. later told police he had bought the weapon 30 years ago following a robbery. Police said he would not be charged.
"He's being treated as a witness and victim of an attempted armed robbery," said New York Police Department spokesman Paul Browne.
The shooting occurred Thursday afternoon at Kaplan Brothers Blue Flame Corp. in a business district on West 125th Street. After the men entered the store, they announced a robbery and pistol-whipped one employee, police said.
From about 20 feet away, Augusto raised the shotgun and fired three blasts, hitting all four suspects, police said. One died outside the front door; afterward, his body could be seen covered with a white sheet.
Another suspect managed to cross the street but collapsed and was later pronounced dead at the hospital, police said. Trails of blood led police to the other two, who were arrested and taken to the hospital.
Stephany Blyn, 56, who rents a space from Augusto in the same building, said she has known him for 25 years. She said he runs a cash business that has been targeted before.
"I'm not totally amazed," she said. "It's pretty upsetting. I thought this neighborhood was getting safer."
A woman who answered a home phone number on Thursday listed for Augusto in Irvington said, "I'm sorry there's no comment," and hung up.
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Associated Press Writer Tom Hays contributed to this report.
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