TAUNTON, Mass. — Two teenagers have been arrested after a Taunton liquor store owner was shot when she refused to hand over money during an armed robbery.
Taunton police said they arrested a 17-year-old Taunton boy and charged him with:
- Assault and battery with a dangerous weapon
- Assault to murder
- Robbery, armed and masked
- Possession of a loaded sawed off shotgun
- Discharging a firearm within 500 feet of a dwelling
- Conspiracy to commit armed robbery
- Four counts of assault and battery of a police officer
An 18-year-old Taunton resident, Billy Morris, was also arrested. He's charged with:
- Assault and battery by means of a dangerous weapon
- Robbery, armed and masked
- Conspiracy to commit robbery
The entire incident was captured on surveillance cameras and shows the owner, 40-year-old Zhi Chen, grab the barrel of the gun when one of the robbers poked her with it. That’s when he turned around and shot her in the stomach.
Police said she and her husband own the Cohannet Street liquor store, but she was working alone at the time.
Chen’s actions are exactly what police say should not be done during a robbery. Police say to always hand over whatever robbers demand to avoid situations like this.
“There was a struggle. It was going to be an armed robbery," police said. "The female behind the counter refused to give anything up. You could see there was an argument taking place and she reached for the weapon. And he discharged one shot. And you could see her go back in the video.”
Neighbors have put up posters and a balloon to show their support for Chen. Some say they’re not surprised she fought back.
“She’s a feisty little lady. They were poking her with it [the gun] and she wasn’t giving up,” said Sandra and Heather Ferris.
Police say Chen is listed in serious but stable condition at a Rhode Island hospital.
Cox Media Group
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