It seems to be catching on. Suspected thief dies after being shot by store employee at Walgreens in south suburban Chicago - CBS Chicago
A couple was shoplifting, but store employees got the merchandise back from the female partner.
But when the man was approached, he pulled a handgun, and the store employee—who has a concealed carry license—fired his weapon and shot the man, police said.
The man then got into a car and drove off, only to get caught by police, and go on to be taken to the hospital and die, police said.
He was shot once in the chest.
Calumet City, Illinois is about 23 miles south of the Loop, though it is only 2 or 3 miles to the southern city limits of Chicago. (Chicago is a large city, geographically speaking.) Calumet City is right up against the Indiana state line.
Let's be clear. He wasn't shot because he was shoplifting; he was shot because he pulled a gun and threatened a store employee who was licensed to carry a concealed weapon.
It is early days in the investigation, and while it seems like a clear case of self-defense, the DA's office in Cook County is not known to be sane. Still, self-defense is a human right.
I spent a lot of time in Cal City. My grandmother lived there, and it was very near where I grew up. It's always been a bit of a rough area, especially along State Line, where all the liquor stores and corner bars were. That store is closer to the southside, and Burnam than State Line. I guess it's technically Cal City, but it's really more like the corner between 4 little towns, Burnam, Dolton, Cal City, and South Holland.
ReplyDeleteI haven't driven thru that area in ages, but Grandma, Grandpa and one uncle are buried in the cemetery a couple of blocks from there. I'm gonna guess that the demographics are very different than 30 years ago.
nick
Everything is different from 30 years ago.
Delete45 years ago, the city was mostly a safe space. Now the entire part of northeastern Illinois is a nightmare. I've been trying to convince my sister to move, and she lives in the western burbs. The crime is creeping towards her - bad guys can drive, after all - but she likes where she is.
My nephew lives and works in the central part of norther Illinois. I think my sister would be better off there. Certainly its cheaper. I would work on getting my brother-in-law in favor of that move, but he's a city boy and can't imagine living in rural Illinois.
I hear ya. I've got one sibling living downtown, North Ave, with a view of the lake if you get up high enough... and the other in a midcentury modern rancher out in tree covered Palos. Unfortunately, the halal eateries and hair braiding places are only a mile from the house, as the crow flies and working their way south down the big street there... And they're both paying Illinois taxes, and taking their lives in their hands to go anywhere...
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