From Milwaukee-Jounal Sentinel:
A customer who shot a suspect during an armed robbery at a grocery store Monday night will discuss his actions with prosecutors Wednesday.
Milwaukee police weren’t saying much Tuesday about the incident, which took place about 7 p.m. at the Aldi store at N. 76th St. and W. Villard Ave. They said two suspects were arrested, and one had been shot and suffered non-life-threatening injuries.
The customer who intervened was not arrested but was told to report to the district attorney on Wednesday, police spokeswoman Anne E. Schwartz said.
The unidentified gun user – being hailed as a hero by some online commentators and gun rights advocates – may wind up becoming the first lawful carrier of a concealed weapon to foil a violent crime, the exact kind of scenario supporters of Wisconsin’s new concealed carry law said will deter criminals.
One online commenter to JSOnline identified himself as the armed shopper and claimed he has a valid concealed carry permit and shot the man twice after the robber became agitated and was putting the shotgun to cashiers’ faces. His statements could not be confirmed. In response to a reporter’s request for further comment, the writer declined.
Julie Ketay, a spokeswoman for Aldi in Illinois, said the company is “fully cooperating with the local law enforcement investigation and cannot comment at this time. We are thankful that no customers or employees were injured.”
Ketay did not respond to questions about Aldi’s firearms policy here or about any security at the store.
The store does have a sign at the entrance stating weapons are prohibited. Under Wisconsin’s new concealed carry law, private businesses can restrict weapons from inside their premises if they post a sign meeting statutory requirements. Violation would generally subject a gun-wearing customer to a trespass violation.
Nik Clark, president of Wisconsin Carry Inc., a gun rights advocacy organization, said he wasn’t surprised by the incident.
“I don’t advocate for violating a store’s no-weapons policy, but I do advocate that people avoid stores posted ‘no weapons,’ as criminals will target them over the ones that allow carry,” Clark said.
Score one for the good guys I guess…
