Alamo, California

From the December 4, 2009 Contra Costa Times:

ALAMO — In a botched robbery Thursday night, a suspect shot a jewelry store employee who returned fire and shot the male robber, a sheriff’s spokesman said.

The shooting reportedly occurred at 7:15 p.m. during an attempted robbery at Alamo Jewelry Mart, 3189 Danville Blvd. The victim, a 53-year-old Hercules resident, who was shot in the upper torso, was rushed to John Muir Medical Center in Walnut Creek, investigators said, and was in fair condition.

Once police arrived, the suspect, who also was shot, holed himself in the store, holding a handgun to his own head, said Contra Costa sheriff’s spokesman Jimmy Lee. Negotiators talked the 50-year-old Alamo resident out of the store and about an hour after the first call an ambulance left the scene with a police escort taking the suspect to the hospital. His condition was not known at press time, but both faced surgery Thursday night, sheriff’s investigators said.