80-Year-Old Liquor Store Owner has Heart Attack After Warding off Robbers with Gun

One of four would-be robbers entered a liquor store in Califonia, only to leave with a gunshot wound early Sunday morning. The would-be robber ran out of the liquor store screaming that his arm had been “shot off”.

Liquor store owner Craig Cope (80) acted quickly by pulling out a shotgun in response to a masked assailant entering the store with a gun and yelling, “Freeze, hands in the air”. Cope shot the assailant in the arm and he then retreated.

The 23-year-old assailant, who has yet to be named, ran out of the liquor store and in another camera can be seen getting into a car parked out front with three other men inside, Justin Johnson, 22, of Inglewood, Calif., Jamar Williams, 27, of Los Angeles, and Davon Broadus, 24, of Las Vegas. On the outside camera, you can see another man in a mask armed standing outside the car as the shot assailant comes out.

All four took off in the vehicle and were eventually apprehended, the unidentified man is at the hospital in stable condition. The others who were outside, are being held on a $500,000 bond.

Nancy (79) wife of the liquor store owner, said her husband had suffered a heart attack after the incident and is expected to fully recover. She told the New York Post, “He’s asleep right now”. She also said he had been discharged from the hospital on Monday.

“He’s going to be fine,” Nancy Cope said. “He just has to rest for a while.”

Riverside County Sheriff’s Office released a statement on the incident:

On Sunday, July 31, 2022, about 2:47 AM, deputies from the Norco Sheriff’s Station responded to reports of an attempted armed robbery at a business located in the 800 block of 6th Street. The investigation was corroborated by surveillance video and revealed four armed suspects arrived at the business in a dark colored vehicle. These suspects approached the business entrance armed with long guns wearing facial coverings and hoods. Immediately upon entering the business with the rifles pointed at the ready, an employee inside the business fired a single shot from a shotgun, causing the suspects to flee the business.

With the assistance of another law enforcement agency, the suspects were located at a hospital in the Southern California region, one of whom was suffering from a gunshot wound consistent with a shotgun blast. Three additional suspects were also located at the hospital in the suspect vehicle, which had been previously reported stolen. The vehicle, a dark-colored BMW SUV, was also found to contain numerous stolen firearms.

The following three suspects were immediately taken into police custody in the hospital parking lot and were booked into the Robert Presley Detention Center for robbery and conspiracy. They are being held in lieu of $500,000 bail:

Justin Johnson, 22-years old resident of Inglewood, CA

Jamar Williams, 27-year-old resident of Los Angeles, CA

Davon Broadus, 24-year old resident of Las Vegas, NV

The primary suspect, a 23-year-old male, remains hospitalized in critical, but stable condition, and his identity will not be released at this time. He will be booked into a Riverside County jail upon his release from the hospital.

In this case, a lawfully armed member of our community prevented a violent crime and ensured their own safety, while being confronted with multiple armed suspects. This investigation is active and ongoing and no additional information will currently be released.

Video of the attempted robbery can be seen below: