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SEVERAL STILL AT LARGE AFTER SHOOT-OUT
Several Hispanic men ranging in age from late teens to late twenties are still at large after being involved in a shoot-out with two diamond salesmen. It happened Monday outside Cecil's Jewelry store on Rodney Parham in Little Rock.
Police have two suspects in custody. Another was killed in the shoot-out and four are still on the loose. This as jewelry store owners received a fax late Tuesday afternoon warning them of those still at large. Many are now on heightened alert.
Danwerke Jewelers owner Patrick Daniel says he's well aware his store gets cased by potential robbers more than he'd like to think. And just last week he thought something was about to happen after people he calls suspicious came through the store.
Daniel says, "I think when they looked around and saw the cameras that recorded their faces, they felt they should leave and go on. So, we've been fortunate to that respect."
Daniel doesn't think Monday's crime is necessary related to those who came through his store, but says no one can be sure.
Police have 25-year-old Raul Camaro and 28-year-old Jairo Martinez in custody. They are not cooperating with authorities, but police think they're from the Dallas area.
Little Rock police teamed up with the FBI for a news conference late Tuesday afternoon. There, they talked about the growing national problem of jewelry robberies.
FBI Agent Tom Browne says, "It’s getting more violent. They have no problem doing an armed robbery in broad daylight with plenty of witnesses, doesn’t matter to them."
Authorities say diamond dealers are often followed around the country, even to their homes, to be beaten and robbed. The pay-out is often in the millions.
Browne says, "They'll recruit young males, tell them I'll get you to the United States, this is how it'll play out. And a lot of times they're not aware of what they're getting into."
At Monday's scene, police recovered some semi-automatic handguns, a revolver and a knife. This is the very reason Daniel says most dealers do business armed.
Daniel says, "They’re having to be really defensive these days because it's becoming like the Wild, Wild West."
Even though the diamond carriers recovered all their jewelry Monday, police charged the two suspects in custody with aggravated robbery, theft and manslaughter for the death of their alleged partner.
Melissa Dunbar, Reporter
Created: 3/15/2005 4:47:35 PM
Updated: 3/15/2005 6:42:39 PM
SEVERAL STILL AT LARGE AFTER SHOOT-OUT
Several Hispanic men ranging in age from late teens to late twenties are still at large after being involved in a shoot-out with two diamond salesmen. It happened Monday outside Cecil's Jewelry store on Rodney Parham in Little Rock.
Police have two suspects in custody. Another was killed in the shoot-out and four are still on the loose. This as jewelry store owners received a fax late Tuesday afternoon warning them of those still at large. Many are now on heightened alert.
Danwerke Jewelers owner Patrick Daniel says he's well aware his store gets cased by potential robbers more than he'd like to think. And just last week he thought something was about to happen after people he calls suspicious came through the store.
Daniel says, "I think when they looked around and saw the cameras that recorded their faces, they felt they should leave and go on. So, we've been fortunate to that respect."
Daniel doesn't think Monday's crime is necessary related to those who came through his store, but says no one can be sure.
Police have 25-year-old Raul Camaro and 28-year-old Jairo Martinez in custody. They are not cooperating with authorities, but police think they're from the Dallas area.
Little Rock police teamed up with the FBI for a news conference late Tuesday afternoon. There, they talked about the growing national problem of jewelry robberies.
FBI Agent Tom Browne says, "It’s getting more violent. They have no problem doing an armed robbery in broad daylight with plenty of witnesses, doesn’t matter to them."
Authorities say diamond dealers are often followed around the country, even to their homes, to be beaten and robbed. The pay-out is often in the millions.
Browne says, "They'll recruit young males, tell them I'll get you to the United States, this is how it'll play out. And a lot of times they're not aware of what they're getting into."
At Monday's scene, police recovered some semi-automatic handguns, a revolver and a knife. This is the very reason Daniel says most dealers do business armed.
Daniel says, "They’re having to be really defensive these days because it's becoming like the Wild, Wild West."
Even though the diamond carriers recovered all their jewelry Monday, police charged the two suspects in custody with aggravated robbery, theft and manslaughter for the death of their alleged partner.
Melissa Dunbar, Reporter
Created: 3/15/2005 4:47:35 PM
Updated: 3/15/2005 6:42:39 PM
