Aurora Police Arrest Gunman Who Allegedly Shot Ceiling Inside Target
AURORA, Colo. (CBS4)- Police in Aurora have arrested a suspect they believe opened fire in a Target store on Friday night. John Robert Pomeroy was arrested just a few hours after the shooting.
It happened at about 6:30 p.m. Friday at the Target located at 1400 S. Havana St. near the intersection of E. Florida Ave. and S. Havana Street in Aurora.
Police said Pomeroy, 33, pulled out a handgun and fired one shot into the ceiling near the pharmacy inside the Target store which sent employees and customers ducking for cover.
"I was really terrified," said Target employee Darcy Buchanan. "While I was pushing carts in, while I was getting closer, I started seeing a bunch of people running out. I thought they were playing some sort of hide and seek game until somebody came up and shook me and said, 'Call 911 there's been a shooting.'"
Pomeroy then ran out of the store.
Police said he's been charged with several felonies, including aggravated robbery involving a controlled substance, felony menacing, robbery and attempted homicide. He is being held on a $50,000 bond.
Aurora Police spokeswoman Cassidee Carlson said that Pomeroy was contacted in the area shortly after the robbery but there was not enough information to hold him. He was released.
A short time later more information was obtained by investigators to connect Pomeroy to the robbery. He was contacted again at his home and arrested.
Police have not released Pomeroy's picture because of the ongoing investigation.
The gunman believed to be Pomeroy has been described as a white man, 6-foot-2, 180 pounds, wearing a black ski mask, with spiked hair and a goatee.
It is possible that Pomeroy was not wearing the ski mask when he entered the store. That may explain the detailed description of his facial hair and hair even though he was wearing a ski mask.
The store was evacuated and closed immediately after the shooting, including about two dozen Target employees who were working.
"They told us to get out of the store," said one Target employee. "Because there were gunshots."
One Target employee was removed from the store on a stretcher. It is not clear how she was injured or the extent of her injuries.
Police said there were no other injuries.
"Very worried. We've got team members that were in the pharmacy that said the guy went and started shooting in the air and stole medicine from the pharmacy." said another Target employee.
Police have not confirmed whether Pomeroy got away with any drugs from the pharmacy.
"This was my first shooting so I am really terribly shaken, and really nervous. I was praying that nobody got hurt or anything," said Buchanan.
