Store Employees Ponder Robbery Suspect's Desperation
AURORA, Colo. (CBS4) - Police shot and killed a robbery suspect late Thursday night in Aurora after he led police on a chase.
Police responded to a robbery call at the Fast-N-Friendly Food Mart on Del Mar Circle. The armed suspect demanded money and then fled, police said.
An officer spotted him leaving in a speeding dark sedan at approximately 10:30 p.m. and chased him.
A clerk at the store, Timothy Theasebro, said he gave the robber $100.
"I was wondering what put him in that situation, why he was desperate enough to do something like that," Theasebro said. "Now his kids are going to grow up without a father. Now his wife has to do two parental jobs."
The chase covered a four- to five-mile stretch to the east, ending at 6th Avenue and Tower Road near Buckley Air Force Base. The suspect got out of the car after police performed a pit maneuver and was shot after refusing to listen to an officer's commands. He died at the hospital.
Police said he was armed with a handgun.
The food mart's manager, Jennifer Lamberson, told CBS4 on Friday that she felt for the suspect's family.
"I feel for his family, I do. Now his family pays the price. It's sad that somebody got killed over some money. It's just very unfortunate and sad," she said.
CBS4 spoke with the suspect's mother, who said the family is trying to figure out what happened.
Another suspect who remained in the car was arrested and faces aggravated robbery charges, police said.
No officers were hurt. An uninvolved car was struck during the chase, but its driver was not hurt.
