Blytheville police are following up on leads as they investigate a robbery at Larry's Grocery on Monday night.
According to Capt. Scott Adams, the BPD CID commander, at approximately 8:30 p.m. Monday officers responded to an armed robbery call at the store located at 609 South Ruddle. The store owner reportedly fired a shot at the fleeing suspect.
"When they arrived they spoke with a witness who stated that a black man dressed in a green jacket with a hood, a black mask, and grey pants entered the store and held himself and the female store owner at gunpoint," Adams said, noting the man then jumped the store counter, took the cash register and ran out of the store south behind the building. "The witness advised he followed the suspect out of the store and watched the offender run south around the building and to the Pear tree Apartments area. He advised the offender then threw the cash register over the fence, jumped the fence then collect the cash register and continued running until he lost sight of him."
After the thief left the business the female store owner, now armed, ran out of the store after the offender, Adams noted.
"As she exited the store she believed the offender had entered a vehicle driving away from the parking lot," Adams said. "The store owner fired one round at the vehicle. The round struck the passenger's side door. Officers spoke with the driver and passenger of the vehicle who both stated they saw the man exit the store and go around the back of the building. At the time of incident the driver and occupant did not wish to press charges against the store owner."
"Detectives have developed some leads and are actively following up on them," he continued. "Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to contact the Blytheville Police Department Criminal Investigation Division at 870-763-4411 or tip line at 870-762-2677."