Armed Robbery Suspect Shot Dead In Towson

TOWSON, Md. (WJZ) -- A deadly shooting in the heart of Towson.

One suspect is dead, another remains on the run following an attempted armed robbery at a liquor store in the Towson Commons area.

Rick Ritter has the latest on the scary scene that unfolded.

One suspect was shot inside the liquor store. Police say he barely made it outside before collapsing and later dying. The other suspect took off and got away.

The area is a college town and even more busy around the holidays.

The call came in around 7 p.m. Monday when two men entered the Towson Wine and Spirits liquor store in the Towson Commons area.

Police say the duo attempted an armed robbery--when one of the men pulled out a handgun--but the clerk behind the counter grabbed his gun in a drawer and shot the suspect multiple times in the upper body.

"Both suspects fled the scene on foot. The suspect that was shot almost immediately collapsed outside the store," said Jennifer Peach, Baltimore County Police Department.

The other suspect got away.

"He is still outstanding. Police are actively searching the area for that suspect," said Peach.

Gary Adams knows the owner of the store.

"The man defended himself. Somebody pulls a gun on you, what are you going to do? If you've got a gun, you're going to shoot back," said Adams.

The area of Monday night's crime scene is typically a busy one--even more so around the holidays--with the Towson Town Center blocks away and both Towson University and Goucher College close by.

Danny Dance works on the same street.

"I have family around here, I have friends around here," said Dance.

Like many who live here, he's shaken up.

"It's terrifying. Do I have to come out armed every day?" he said.

No one else was injured in the shooting.

Police say they're reviewing surveillance video in the area to try and get a better description of the suspect. All they can say right now is that he was wearing a sweatshirt with a hood covering his face.

Baltimore County police say typically in these incidents, no charges are filed against the clerk--citing self defense--but that it's still too early in the investigation to say for sure.