This year’s honorees include a Midwest retailer and two multi-store independents, one in New York and the other in New England.
Jewelry Store Employee Shot, Injured in Ohio Robbery
Crime Stoppers is offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of suspects involved.
Akron, Ohio--An employee was shot during the robbery of an Ohio jewelry store late last month, and at least three men are wanted for their involvement in the incident.
According to a police report, the Akron police were called to Sam’s Jewelry Emporium on Exchange Street on the evening of April 27.
Store employees said that night, three males entered the store, one of whom was carrying a gun and one an ax, which he used to smash a showcase. A gunshot went off during the robbery and store employee Eduardo Escudero, 50, was hit by the bullet as he was coming out of the back room.
The three suspects left the store with thousands of dollars in high-end Swiss watches.
Escudero was taken to the hospital for a gunshot wound to his left arm.
According to local reports, he underwent surgery on Friday at Cleveland Clinic Akron General Medical Center and is recovering.
News 5 Cleveland reported that the bullet appeared to hit Escudero's Citizen Skyhawk Blue Angel watch, which shattered, before striking his arm.
The suspects are believed to have gotten away in a silver Chevy Impala, which was found later that night at an intersection.
Watch the video to see the suspects caught on a surveillance camera.
According to the police report, the suspects involved are described as:
--A black male, 5 foot 7 inches in height and 160 pounds, wearing a black vest, gray hoodie, gray pants dark shoes;
--A black male, 6 feet tall and weighing approximately 185 pounds; and
--A black male, 6 feet tall and weighing about 220 pounds, wearing a black hoodie and white shirt.
Though the security videos from the store don’t show much, police are hoping someone might be able to notice something identifying about one of the suspects or have more information about the incident.
Crime Stoppers is offering a $5,000 reward for information about the suspects; call the police department at 330-375-2490 or Summit County Crime Stoppers at 330-434-2677.
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