Dave Markowitz
Member
Posted on Sat, Dec. 06, 2003
He gets fatal dose of own Rx Would-be robber slain by Oak Lane druggist; 2nd man flees
By ROSE DEWOLF & SIMONE WEICHSELBAUM
[email protected]
A young West Oak Lane pharmacist stopped two armed holdup men cold yesterday morning when he pulled a gun of his own and shot dead one robber and possibly struck the other, police said.
According to investigators, pharmacist Steve Theodorou quickly got off six shots from his 9 mm handgun, killing one of the would-be robbers and possibly wounding the second, who fled.
"Steve drew first and shot," said homicide Lt. Joseph Maum. "He was confronted by a man with a large-caliber handgun."
The two money-hungry thugs walked into Chelten Pharmacy on Chelten Avenue and Beechwood Street about 30 minutes after its 9 a.m. opening, said Maum. They attempted to stick up Theodorou, 28.
But the pharmacist was quicker than the robbers.
"He drew a 9 mm from his belt," said Maum. "Firing numerous times. Hitting the bad guys numerous times."
The dead holdup man, whose name has not been released by police, had a gun in his hand. The runaway robber is still at large, said authorities.
Theodorou had not been charged last night in the shooting, police said.
Omar Haamid, 20, of Oak Lane, said the holdup men "walked in and right away began shooting."
Haamid said he had been in the store talking to the pharmacist and "Miss Dawn," both of whom were behind the counter, when the holdup men appeared. He said he had not waited to see what happened next. He ran.
The pharmacy is owned by the Chelten Medical Center, which has offices in several locations including one, closed yesterday, next door to the pharmacy.
Haamid said he knew the pharmacy had been robbed before, although he could not recall when.
The store clearly has a pilfering problem. A sign on the door said: "Reminder. No stealing. "We are watching you."
In an era of drugstore-chain giants, Chelten Pharmacy is a throwback to another day. The store is small and has shelves stocked with cosmetics and other nonmedicinal items, but the prescription counter dominates the space.
A woman who came by to pick up her prescription yesterday morning was more worried about her need for the medicine than curious about why the area had been screened off behind police crime-scene tape.
"I have to have my medicine," she told a police detective at the scene. He told her to get her prescription called in to a different pharmacy. "You won't be able to get any medicine here today," he said.
http://www.philly.com/mld/dailynews/7428250.htm?template=contentModules/printstory.jsp
He gets fatal dose of own Rx Would-be robber slain by Oak Lane druggist; 2nd man flees
By ROSE DEWOLF & SIMONE WEICHSELBAUM
[email protected]
A young West Oak Lane pharmacist stopped two armed holdup men cold yesterday morning when he pulled a gun of his own and shot dead one robber and possibly struck the other, police said.
According to investigators, pharmacist Steve Theodorou quickly got off six shots from his 9 mm handgun, killing one of the would-be robbers and possibly wounding the second, who fled.
"Steve drew first and shot," said homicide Lt. Joseph Maum. "He was confronted by a man with a large-caliber handgun."
The two money-hungry thugs walked into Chelten Pharmacy on Chelten Avenue and Beechwood Street about 30 minutes after its 9 a.m. opening, said Maum. They attempted to stick up Theodorou, 28.
But the pharmacist was quicker than the robbers.
"He drew a 9 mm from his belt," said Maum. "Firing numerous times. Hitting the bad guys numerous times."
The dead holdup man, whose name has not been released by police, had a gun in his hand. The runaway robber is still at large, said authorities.
Theodorou had not been charged last night in the shooting, police said.
Omar Haamid, 20, of Oak Lane, said the holdup men "walked in and right away began shooting."
Haamid said he had been in the store talking to the pharmacist and "Miss Dawn," both of whom were behind the counter, when the holdup men appeared. He said he had not waited to see what happened next. He ran.
The pharmacy is owned by the Chelten Medical Center, which has offices in several locations including one, closed yesterday, next door to the pharmacy.
Haamid said he knew the pharmacy had been robbed before, although he could not recall when.
The store clearly has a pilfering problem. A sign on the door said: "Reminder. No stealing. "We are watching you."
In an era of drugstore-chain giants, Chelten Pharmacy is a throwback to another day. The store is small and has shelves stocked with cosmetics and other nonmedicinal items, but the prescription counter dominates the space.
A woman who came by to pick up her prescription yesterday morning was more worried about her need for the medicine than curious about why the area had been screened off behind police crime-scene tape.
"I have to have my medicine," she told a police detective at the scene. He told her to get her prescription called in to a different pharmacy. "You won't be able to get any medicine here today," he said.
http://www.philly.com/mld/dailynews/7428250.htm?template=contentModules/printstory.jsp
). Wonder where he trained? He's obviously got his skill set right up there.
. Good speed and accurate shot placement WHILE under fire. I tip my hat to you sir.