Would-be robbers make mistake of targeting Chicago shop where CCP-holder works

robbery

From left: Stephon Kinchen, Neil Thomas, Anthony Simpkins-McDonald (Photo: Cook County Sheriff’s Office, Chicago Police Department)

An attempted robbery at a store in Chicago’s West Ridge community Sunday night ended with three suspects in police custody and two of them recovering from gunshot wounds after the store clerk shot them.

Around 9:45 p.m., 18-year-old Stephon Kinchen and 24-year-old Neil Thomas entered the store with a gun and announced a robbery. However the store clerk, who police confirmed is a valid concealed carry permit holder, also pulled out a gun and opened fire on the suspects. Both men fled from the scene, but Thomas was struck in the shoulder by a bullet and Kinchen suffered a graze wound to his forearm, the Chicago Sun-Times reported.

It’s unknown if the suspects made off with any cash or valuables, but authorities caught up with them a short distance from the store.

Kinchen and Thomas were transported to separate hospitals for medical treatment. Both are expected to survive. The clerk suffered minor injuries during the altercation but declined medical attention and is said to be okay.

A third suspect, 21-year-old Anthony Simpkins-McDonald, was also arrested. He was not injured during the attempted robbery. It’s unknown what part he played in the crime, but all three suspects are each facing two felony counts of attempted robbery with a firearm.

All three suspects remain behind bars, Kinchen and Thomas each with a $900,000 bond and Simpkins-McDonald on a $250,000 bond.

Contrarily, another armed robbery occurred in the same neighborhood several hours later, but the victims were shot by their assailants.

In that incident, two women were walking on the sidewalk just before 1 a.m. when they were approached by two men armed with guns. The suspects demanded money from the women, but when they informed the would-be robbers that they didn’t carry cash, one of the suspects opened fire, striking one woman in the foot and grazing the other woman’s leg. Both are expected to recover.

No arrests have been made.

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