Beaumont jeweler exchanges gunfire with Orange man

 

Last updated 5/19/2012 at Noon



On Wednesday May 9, at 9:24 a.m., Patrol Officers with our Field Operations Division responded to a reported robbery in progress at Randy’s Fine Jewelers located at 229 Dowlen Rd.

Witnesses and employees of neighboring business reported that they heard gun shots coming from inside the business and that the owner was holding a person at gunpoint in front of the business.

Officers arrived and found that the owner and a suspected robber had exchanged gunfire inside the store.

According to witnesses, the suspected robber entered the store posing as a customer.

An employee began to assist the man and he produced a handgun and announced that he was robbing the jewelry store.

He ordered the female employee and a customer to lie on the floor.

The robber then confronted the owner and attempted to restrain him.

The robber then fired one shot that struck the owner in his upper leg.


The robber began to rummage through the store and the owner was able to secure his personal handgun and fire several shots at the robber.

An exchange of gunfire then ensued between the owner and the now fleeing robber.

During that gunfight, the robber was struck multiple times in his upper body.

He exited the store and fell on the front sidewalk.

The owner then held the robber at gunpoint until officers arrived.

Beaumont EMS transported both the robber and the storeowner to St. Elizabeth ER for treatment of their wounds. The owner was listed in good condition suffering from a gunshot wound to his upper leg. The suspected robber had multiple gunshot wounds to his upper body with one bullet lodged in his abdominal cavity and one lodged near his spine. The suspect was listed in stable condition prior to being taken to surgery.


Officers were able to identify the suspected robber as Joshua Nowland, a 35-year-old resident of Orange. Detectives are working to secure an arrest warrant against Nowland for Aggravated Robbery. When he clears surgery, he will remain in our custody.

Officers also located a vehicle behind Randy’s Fine Jewelers that we believe was driven by Nowland. That vehicle is also in our custody.

 

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