Drizzt
December 24, 2002, 05:20 PM
Store owner kills robber
December 24, 2002 Posted: 05:45:14 AM PST
By TY PHILLIPS
BEE STAFF WRITER
A Modesto sports memorabilia store owner shot and killed a gunman trying to rob the shop Monday afternoon, police said.
Detectives questioned and later released Dave Prendergast, 57, after the shooting, which happened at Dr. Sports Cards & Collectibles at 415 Burney St.
Evidence was inconclusive in determining whether detectives would recommend criminal charges be filed against Prendergast, Detective Phil Owen said.
The robber, who was shot once in the head, had not been identified late Monday, police spokesman Doug Ridenour said.
At 1:15 p.m., several witnesses heard two gunshots come from inside the downtown Modesto business. Moments later, a man with a black mask over his head stumbled out of the store and collapsed in the sidewalk.
Prendergast called 911 and told police there was a robbery in progress. He also told a dispatcher that he had shot the robber, Ridenour said.
Paramedics and firefighters arrived minutes later to find the robber lying on the sidewalk. They worked to revive him as a small crowd gathered behind the yellow police tape barrier.
The robber lay on his back, most of his clothing cut free, as paramedics took turns giving him CPR. He was taken to a hospital and pronounced dead on arrival.
During an interview after the shooting, Prendergast told detectives the robber had been in the store earlier Monday and had purchased several items, Owen said.
The man returned in the early afternoon hours, looking around while he waited for other people to leave the store. Once the robber and Prendergast were alone, the robber approached the store owner and displayed a semiautomatic handgun, Owen said.
"He pulled the gun out and told (Prendergast) to get into the back room," Owen said. "The store owner said he thought the guy was going to kill him. His words were, 'I didn't want to be killed in the back room.'"
Instead of going to the back room, Prendergast told detectives he pulled out a semiautomatic handgun and fired two shots, Owen said.
One of the shots struck the robber in the face; the other shot missed, Ridenour said. The robber did not fire his gun, Owen said.
Several people who work in businesses along Burney Street described Prendergast as a man who quietly goes about his business.
Vishal Chunilal, who works at the Provision House liquor store next door to Dr. Sports, said Prendergast comes most days and buys a bag of peanuts. Also, Prendergast buys a lotto ticket each week for an elderly woman who cannot leave her home, Chunilal said.
"We've known him for about 10 years," Chunilal said. "He's always been a quiet guy. I can't believe he shot that guy. I'm afraid of what would have happened if (the robber) came here instead."
Since the robber had no identification, police still could not figure out who he was late Monday. Stanislaus County deputy coroner Rex Cline said he could not identify the man through fingerprint records.
The man was described as an adult male, possibly Hispanic, in his mid- to late-20s. He was about 5 feet, 8 inches tall and weighed between 150 and 170 pounds. He had dark hair and a goatee.
He had a tattoo of a blue, circular-shaped dragon on his upper left chest, Cline said, and a partial tattoo on his upper right chest. There was a new, blue tattoo on his upper right arm, which also resembled a dragon, Cline said.
Anyone with information about the case is asked to call Detective Phil Owen at 572-9551.
http://www.modbee.com/local/story/5697826p-6670992c.html
December 24, 2002 Posted: 05:45:14 AM PST
By TY PHILLIPS
BEE STAFF WRITER
A Modesto sports memorabilia store owner shot and killed a gunman trying to rob the shop Monday afternoon, police said.
Detectives questioned and later released Dave Prendergast, 57, after the shooting, which happened at Dr. Sports Cards & Collectibles at 415 Burney St.
Evidence was inconclusive in determining whether detectives would recommend criminal charges be filed against Prendergast, Detective Phil Owen said.
The robber, who was shot once in the head, had not been identified late Monday, police spokesman Doug Ridenour said.
At 1:15 p.m., several witnesses heard two gunshots come from inside the downtown Modesto business. Moments later, a man with a black mask over his head stumbled out of the store and collapsed in the sidewalk.
Prendergast called 911 and told police there was a robbery in progress. He also told a dispatcher that he had shot the robber, Ridenour said.
Paramedics and firefighters arrived minutes later to find the robber lying on the sidewalk. They worked to revive him as a small crowd gathered behind the yellow police tape barrier.
The robber lay on his back, most of his clothing cut free, as paramedics took turns giving him CPR. He was taken to a hospital and pronounced dead on arrival.
During an interview after the shooting, Prendergast told detectives the robber had been in the store earlier Monday and had purchased several items, Owen said.
The man returned in the early afternoon hours, looking around while he waited for other people to leave the store. Once the robber and Prendergast were alone, the robber approached the store owner and displayed a semiautomatic handgun, Owen said.
"He pulled the gun out and told (Prendergast) to get into the back room," Owen said. "The store owner said he thought the guy was going to kill him. His words were, 'I didn't want to be killed in the back room.'"
Instead of going to the back room, Prendergast told detectives he pulled out a semiautomatic handgun and fired two shots, Owen said.
One of the shots struck the robber in the face; the other shot missed, Ridenour said. The robber did not fire his gun, Owen said.
Several people who work in businesses along Burney Street described Prendergast as a man who quietly goes about his business.
Vishal Chunilal, who works at the Provision House liquor store next door to Dr. Sports, said Prendergast comes most days and buys a bag of peanuts. Also, Prendergast buys a lotto ticket each week for an elderly woman who cannot leave her home, Chunilal said.
"We've known him for about 10 years," Chunilal said. "He's always been a quiet guy. I can't believe he shot that guy. I'm afraid of what would have happened if (the robber) came here instead."
Since the robber had no identification, police still could not figure out who he was late Monday. Stanislaus County deputy coroner Rex Cline said he could not identify the man through fingerprint records.
The man was described as an adult male, possibly Hispanic, in his mid- to late-20s. He was about 5 feet, 8 inches tall and weighed between 150 and 170 pounds. He had dark hair and a goatee.
He had a tattoo of a blue, circular-shaped dragon on his upper left chest, Cline said, and a partial tattoo on his upper right chest. There was a new, blue tattoo on his upper right arm, which also resembled a dragon, Cline said.
Anyone with information about the case is asked to call Detective Phil Owen at 572-9551.
http://www.modbee.com/local/story/5697826p-6670992c.html