http://www.woodtv.com/Global/story.asp?S=2274821&nav=0RcdQii9
(Update, Grand Rapids, September 8, 2004, 6:17 p.m.) Police say a man robbed a Grand Rapids jewelry store in broad daylight. The store's owner and an employee took chase, firing a gun at the suspect.
The robbery happened around 11:30 a.m. Wednesday at Herkner Jewelers on Monroe Center. A large crowd had gathered at nearby Rosa Parks Circle for a ceremony for the new Grand Rapids Art Museum when the gunshots were fired.
Mark Reinhart had a bird's eye view, literally, of the crime, as he was washing windows high atop Monroe Center. "I looked over and I saw a guy holding a gun and I heard two more shots after that," he told 24 Hour News 8.
Jennifer Idema, a hot dog vendor, was also near the crime scene. "I saw a gentleman running out of the jewelry store, two guys in suits running after him. He (the suspect) was holding a handful of jewelry and money," she said. "A black sedan, I think it was a Lincoln, pulled up, threw the door open, he (the robber) jumped in, then the two guys in suits and ties drew fire on the car."
"He put the gun back in his pocket and he ran back toward the jewelry store," adds Reinhart.
The store owner didn't hit anybody, but a bullet did shatter the rear window of an SUV that was passing by with two people inside.
Those people weren't hurt but were pretty shaken up. "All of a sudden I heard a huge explosion and I just put the brakes on and said, 'Oh my God, what was that?'" said Sue Pachulski, the driver of the SUV.
24 Hour News 8 asked authorities about the store owner shooting a gun. "It would be for review of the prosecuting attorney and probably be a better question for the owner to answer what was in his mind at that time that he fired the gunshots," said Lieutenant Carol Price of the Grand Rapids Police Department.
The store owner had no comment.
Authorities are still looking for the robber and another person who may have been driving the getaway car.
