Individual In Chicago Jewelry Shop Targeted By Thief Uses Firearm To Defend Self From Robber

Though it is difficult to get a concealed carry permit in Chicago, it’s not impossible.

Further, given the rampant crime in the city, much of it violent and gang-connected, getting such a permit to legally carry a weapon for use in legal self-defense situations is often a prudent decision, as shown by a bystander at a Chicago-area jewelry shop.

Such could be seen when that employee was at work at about 11 a.m. on the morning of Saturday, February 24, when an alleged robber walked into the store and started smashing glass in an apparent attempt to steal from the shop.

That’s when the bystander opened fire. As the alleged attempted thief started smashing glass, the individual with the firearm behind the counter drew a pistol, racked the slide, and opened fire on the alleged attempted robber. The alleged thief then started running out the door, pausing to reach into the store and pick up some unidentified object he dropped, and then run the “L” platform. The shooter hit the alleged thief with two rounds, one in the abdomen and one in the buttocks.

According to CBS News, the police said that the alleged thief was taken into police custody and then placed in the hospital, where he was treated for the gunshot wounds and his condition was stabilized. Further, CBS News noted that the individual who did the shooting was a concealed carry license holder and had a proper Firearm Owner Identification Card.

It is unclear whether the individual who did the firing was and employee or just a bystander. Breitbart News reported that the shooter was an “employee,” as did CBS News, while other news sources, such as local news source Fox 32 Chicago, claimed that the individual was a bystander. Fox 32 added, “Area Detectives are investigating and charges are pending.”

A video of the incident, captured by an in-store security camera, soon emerged and was posted to X.

One local, who went only by “Christine” told CBS News that she would like to see more police officers in the area, as the recent spike in crime has concerned her, and that it seems unfair to foist responsibility for stopping thieves on residents and business owners. “I think to throw all the responsibility on the business owners or the residences is really not the right way to go,” Christine said.

Continuing, Christine argued that things have only gotten worse in the area, saying, “The crime is just escalating, and it’s getting worse and worse.” She went on to give a few examples of the escalating crime and violence in the area, telling CBS News, “We had kids killed a few weeks ago. Now this armed robbery, it’s a shame.”

It remains to be seen whether the individual who did the shooting, whether an employee or bystander there by chance, will face charges for the apparent self-defense shooting, or on what charges the alleged thief will be arraigned, if any.