As three armed male robbery suspects fled a Chicago convenience store, a female store owner opened fire on the men, the store owner told media.
“It's not easy running a business, so I'm really frustrated. I hope the police get involved,” Vanessa Harris, owner of convenience store V's, told ABC Chicago. Told. “I feel really hurt and violated.”
Around 4:35 a.m. Thursday, three male suspects broke the windows of a store in the Woodlawn neighborhood and began stealing merchandise, Chicago police said. Harris, 40, arrived at work shortly after and confronted the three men, one of whom allegedly pulled out a gun and opened fire.
Armed carjacker robs Chicago commuters by 'shooting them'
Last week, Chicago's V's convenience store was the target of a robbery. (Google Maps)
“I was a little nervous, thinking, 'Am I going to shoot again?'” Harris told the magazine. “But then they realized he had done it as a warning shot and they ran out of the store. I fired back and two more people ran out on foot.”
Harris said he was not injured in the gunfight and the suspects quickly fled in a white sedan. She had her concealed carry permit and was legally armed during the incident, ABC Chicago reported.
“The victim, a 40-year-old woman, witnessed the offenders leaving the store and one of the offenders produced a firearm and fired at her. “The victim was not struck by gunfire and there is no indication at this time that the gunman was struck,” police said in a comment provided to FOX News Digital.
D.C.'s crime spiral takes a new turn as shoplifters appear to be calling on retailers to 'unite': report
A woman has a handgun. (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews, File)
But Harris said he believes he may have hit one of the men during the gunfight.
“I'm confident I did it,” Harris said. “If not, they were lucky. I have to do what I have to do. I mean, unfortunately, this is not what I want to do. I don't want to give death of conscience, but They're doing that.'' That's ridiculous. “
Second Amendment goes into effect after police pull out following Chicago defund drive
Chicago business owners say 2024 is already off to a rocky start with crime after the store was the scene of a new robbery late on New Year's Eve.
Chicago police vehicles driving through the city streets. (Beata Saursel/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
“You lose so much when you're on this corner,” Harris said. “We're closing. Customers have been complaining about us closing at 5:30 or 6, but it's for my safety.”
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Police have not yet arrested any suspects in this case. Chicago Police Department told FOX News Digital that Area 1 detectives are investigating the matter.
