LIVERMORE — A gun store owner fatally shot a man trying to rob the store Sunday, police said.
The name of the suspected robber, a 28-year-old Redwood City man, was not released Monday.
The fatal shooting happened about 2:30 p.m. Sunday at East Bay Firearms, 4049 First St.
In a news release, police said the preliminary investigation indicates the man killed entered the store acting suspicious and wearing a mask, a hooded sweatshirt pulled over his head and gloves.
According to witnesses, he then attempted to rob the gun store by taking a handgun being handled by a customer while armed with a hammer, authorities said.
The gun store owner, whose name was not released, fired two shots from his own handgun, fatally wounding the man, authorities said.
Police and paramedics performed life-saving measures but the man succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene.
The gun store owner was cooperating with the investigation, the release says. At this stage in the investigation, police said, it appears that the shooting was a case of self-defense.
Five customers were inside the store at the time the robbery occurred but were not injured, the release said.
A man answering the store’s phone Monday would only say “We’re not making any statements,” and did not identify himself.
Police said they are still trying to determine how the man got to the store, as no vehicles in the area have so far been linked to him.
Livermore Police’s Criminal Investigations Bureau is continuing the investigation and detectives are following up on leads.
Anyone with information that may help in the investigation may call the Livermore Police Department’s anonymous tip line at 925-371-4790.
