Mark Tyson
Member
Hero Shooter May Get Charged
By Luis Perez and Sean Gardiner
Staff Writers
December 10, 2003, 8:46 PM EST
As neighbors hailed a Brooklyn dog store owner who fatally shot two would-be robbers as a hero, law enforcement authorities Wednesday were mulling whether he should be charged criminally.
Police Commissioner Ray Kelly said Tuesday night's thwarted robbery appears to be "a justified shooting." However, law enforcement authorities have yet to decide whether charges will be filed against Ivan Blume, the owner of Quality Canines pet shop, for an unlicensed gun found inside his shop, police said.
Officials at the Brooklyn district attorney's office said Wednesday night that no decision had been made on whether to charge Blume in connection with the shooting or the unlicensed gun.
Just after 8 p.m. Tuesday, Michael Live, 48, and Hector Perez, 33, both of the Bronx, walked into the shop on Stillwell Avenue in Gravesend and pulled out handguns — Live gripping a 9mm Baretta and Perez handling a .25-caliber Titan.
The men announced a robbery and ushered Blume and his 17-year-old employee, Daniel Bonder, into a back room. As Perez started to bind Bonder's hands with duct tape, Blume grabbed Live's hand with the gun and started struggling with him. He wrested the gun from Live and shot him once. The store owner then shot Perez twice, police said. Both men were dead when police arrived.
Police investigating the shooting later found an unlicensed .38-caliber in the store that detectives believe belonged to Blume.
"The only question mark here is that there were three guns recovered," said a police source, speaking on the condition of anonymity. "We think one of them was his, so we'll have to see how that works out."
All day Wednesday, Blume remained inside his apartment above his store, which had an iron gate drawn.
A woman who answered the phone and identified herself as his wife but wouldn't give her name said Blume didn't want to speak. She said Blume was sleeping and was "as good as he can be after an experience like that."
"It's been a very draining experience," the woman said.
A woman who wouldn't identify herself who answered the door at Bonder's Gravesend home said the teen suffered a minor injury to his hand. She said he'll be fine physically but that the mental trauma of the incident "is going to stick with him."
Neighbors were surprised that Blume, who they described as soft-spoken and reserved, would attempt such a daring maneuver as unarming two robbers who were holding weapons on him. They also supported his use of deadly force.
Billy Beickert, 22, a construction worker who lives around the corner from the pet shop, arrived during the aftermath of the shooting.
"He gets to go home to see his family, that's the good story," Beickert said. "He's safe."
John Licciardi, 38, who owns the deli where Blume routinely buys his turkey or roast beef sandwiches at lunchtime, said his longtime customer "got fed up. He saw the opportunity and he took it." Still, Licciardi said he couldn't believe that Blume took that kind of action.
Neither could Gloria Rafeal, owner of Barron's Grocery, where Blume, whom she knows as a courteous man who always holds the doors for others, buys his cappuccino every morning.
"He's a very nice guy and very quiet," Rafeal said. "You would never think of him doing something like that. But you know he was defending his life."
Police said Live has a long criminal history that include convictions for selling drugs, assault, robbery, criminal possession of a weapon, grand larceny, disorderly conduct, jostling and criminal mischief. Perez had a past conviction, but police said the case had been sealed.
A sign on the front of Blume's store touts his speciality in selling and training purebred dogs such as poodles, Yorkies, Dobermans, Schnauzers and Shiatsus. Police familiar with the investigation said Blume's business was "high end," selling some dogs for $700 to $1,000.
"Most of the people around here have dogs from Ivan," Rafeal said. "If you want a nice dog, you go to Ivan."
Blume's shop is open only by appointment, but he regularly stays up as late as midnight for his customers, neighbors said.
Police said there had been another robbery last year at Blume's store, which is scarred by two bullet holes in the front window. The only thing stolen at gunpoint in that incident was a Yorkshire Terrier, police said.
Danny Mayer, 49, who bought his poodle from Blume, said the dog store owner was resolute not to let crime in the neighborhood force him to move. Last year, there were 418 robberies in the 60th Precinct, which includes Blume's store.
"He always said he wasn't going to get out of here," Mayer said. "He's not going to let anyone chase him out."
Copyright © 2003, Newsday, Inc. |
http://www.nynewsday.com/news/local/crime/nyc-pets1211,0,4911719.story?coll=nyc-topheadlines-left
By Luis Perez and Sean Gardiner
Staff Writers
December 10, 2003, 8:46 PM EST
As neighbors hailed a Brooklyn dog store owner who fatally shot two would-be robbers as a hero, law enforcement authorities Wednesday were mulling whether he should be charged criminally.
Police Commissioner Ray Kelly said Tuesday night's thwarted robbery appears to be "a justified shooting." However, law enforcement authorities have yet to decide whether charges will be filed against Ivan Blume, the owner of Quality Canines pet shop, for an unlicensed gun found inside his shop, police said.
Officials at the Brooklyn district attorney's office said Wednesday night that no decision had been made on whether to charge Blume in connection with the shooting or the unlicensed gun.
Just after 8 p.m. Tuesday, Michael Live, 48, and Hector Perez, 33, both of the Bronx, walked into the shop on Stillwell Avenue in Gravesend and pulled out handguns — Live gripping a 9mm Baretta and Perez handling a .25-caliber Titan.
The men announced a robbery and ushered Blume and his 17-year-old employee, Daniel Bonder, into a back room. As Perez started to bind Bonder's hands with duct tape, Blume grabbed Live's hand with the gun and started struggling with him. He wrested the gun from Live and shot him once. The store owner then shot Perez twice, police said. Both men were dead when police arrived.
Police investigating the shooting later found an unlicensed .38-caliber in the store that detectives believe belonged to Blume.
"The only question mark here is that there were three guns recovered," said a police source, speaking on the condition of anonymity. "We think one of them was his, so we'll have to see how that works out."
All day Wednesday, Blume remained inside his apartment above his store, which had an iron gate drawn.
A woman who answered the phone and identified herself as his wife but wouldn't give her name said Blume didn't want to speak. She said Blume was sleeping and was "as good as he can be after an experience like that."
"It's been a very draining experience," the woman said.
A woman who wouldn't identify herself who answered the door at Bonder's Gravesend home said the teen suffered a minor injury to his hand. She said he'll be fine physically but that the mental trauma of the incident "is going to stick with him."
Neighbors were surprised that Blume, who they described as soft-spoken and reserved, would attempt such a daring maneuver as unarming two robbers who were holding weapons on him. They also supported his use of deadly force.
Billy Beickert, 22, a construction worker who lives around the corner from the pet shop, arrived during the aftermath of the shooting.
"He gets to go home to see his family, that's the good story," Beickert said. "He's safe."
John Licciardi, 38, who owns the deli where Blume routinely buys his turkey or roast beef sandwiches at lunchtime, said his longtime customer "got fed up. He saw the opportunity and he took it." Still, Licciardi said he couldn't believe that Blume took that kind of action.
Neither could Gloria Rafeal, owner of Barron's Grocery, where Blume, whom she knows as a courteous man who always holds the doors for others, buys his cappuccino every morning.
"He's a very nice guy and very quiet," Rafeal said. "You would never think of him doing something like that. But you know he was defending his life."
Police said Live has a long criminal history that include convictions for selling drugs, assault, robbery, criminal possession of a weapon, grand larceny, disorderly conduct, jostling and criminal mischief. Perez had a past conviction, but police said the case had been sealed.
A sign on the front of Blume's store touts his speciality in selling and training purebred dogs such as poodles, Yorkies, Dobermans, Schnauzers and Shiatsus. Police familiar with the investigation said Blume's business was "high end," selling some dogs for $700 to $1,000.
"Most of the people around here have dogs from Ivan," Rafeal said. "If you want a nice dog, you go to Ivan."
Blume's shop is open only by appointment, but he regularly stays up as late as midnight for his customers, neighbors said.
Police said there had been another robbery last year at Blume's store, which is scarred by two bullet holes in the front window. The only thing stolen at gunpoint in that incident was a Yorkshire Terrier, police said.
Danny Mayer, 49, who bought his poodle from Blume, said the dog store owner was resolute not to let crime in the neighborhood force him to move. Last year, there were 418 robberies in the 60th Precinct, which includes Blume's store.
"He always said he wasn't going to get out of here," Mayer said. "He's not going to let anyone chase him out."
Copyright © 2003, Newsday, Inc. |
http://www.nynewsday.com/news/local/crime/nyc-pets1211,0,4911719.story?coll=nyc-topheadlines-left
to the ones that would charge Ivan Blume!
:banghead: 
