Armed Christmas jackers who wreaked havoc in the Coney Drive Buttonwood area today are in police lockdown tonight after they were caught red handed today. It started at around 11:30 when a 36-year-old messenger was held up by two men, one of them carrying a pistol. He put the gun to his head, while the other robbed him of an undisclosed amount of cash and cheques.
Police were searching the area for the suspects when they got another report from Hamze's Store just off Coney Drive. 36-year-old shopkeeper Samir Hamze had been beaten in his head. He told police that one of the men came in, and put his hand to his waist. But Hamze was the quicker draw and pulled out his gun first, and escorted the would-be robber out. But as he got outside, the accomplice was hiding behind the door, and he grabbed for the gun. They started to struggle and three shots were fired, one of them grazing one of the assailants on the arm. After that, the other would be robber clubbed Hamze over the head, knocking him unconscious. The pair ran off, raking Hamze's firearm, seen here. Normally that would've been the end of it but police got a description of the vehicle that the robbers were in, a gray two-door Toyota and immediately put out an all points bulletin. The vehicle was located on North Creek and police grabbed two male persons as they got out. One of them was suffering from what appeared to be a gunshot wound to the right arm. Police then searched the car and discovered a 9mm pistol which has since been identified as the one stolen from the businessman along with a.32 revolver loaded with three live rounds and one expended shell.
The injured bandit was transported to the KHMH for treatment where he remains under police guard while the other was escorted to the police station awaiting charges. Police recovered some $429 in cash from the men believed to be proceeds from the first crime.
