Self Defense Prompted Shooting in Fresno Liquor Store

A store clerk in Fresno, California, acted in self defense when he shot a man who, with a friend, attempted to rob the liquor store at which he worked.

The 29 year old man and his friend approached the checkout and confronted the clerk with a semi-automatic gun but were surprised by the semi-automatic gun that the clerk also possessed. The clerk waited for an appropriate moment and fired, leaving one man fatally injured.

The man who was shot had a criminal history that included car jacking, carrying a concealed weapon, and vehicle theft. The entire encounter between the would-be robbers and the clerk was captured on surveillance video.

After examining the video, the local police chief was confident that the shooting was carried out in self-defense. The police chief has said that he fully supports a business owner’s right to self-defense and their right to arm themselves for self-defense. He also noted that there has been an increase in business based robberies recently in Fresno.

The owner of the liquor store in question noted that the businesses in that area are prone to armed robbery. This is the reason he makes a gun available to the clerks who work overnight in the store. The store is open 24 hours a day.

While the death of a person is not something to dismiss lightly, it is admirable that the store clerk was confident enough to defend himself in the face of two aggressive criminals. Quick access to a weapon that he was comfortable using helped to protect his life and property.