Police Shoot Robbery Suspect

By Marcus Gilmer in News on May 6, 2009 5:45PM

A man shot and killed by police this morning was a suspect in 30 area armed robberies. The shooting happened around 7 a.m. at a Marathon gas station in Harwood Heights. Police and FBI agents were staking out the gas station as it matched a pattern the suspect followed. Damn, guys. Good call. Between 40 and 50 law enforcement officials have been on surveillance in the area, looking for a man who either drove a white van or worked with a get-away driver who did. Officers were watching the Marathon station, located at at West Montrose Avenue and Forest Preserve Drive, when they saw the white van park and the suspect, placing a surgical mask over his face, enter the store.

According to Chicago Breaking News:

As the suspect exited with a gun in one hand and cash in the other, they confronted him and told him to drop his weapon, said FBI spokesman Ross Rice.

"He was ordered to drop the weapon and surrender," Rice said. "He did not immediately comply with that order."

The detective then opened fire, shooting the man, authorities said.

Two nearby schools, Maple Park Academy and Union Ridge Elementary, were closed - at least temporarily - due to safety concerns stemming from the incident. Wilbur Wright Junior College, also located close to the gas station, had limited entrance. [additional info via Sun-Times]