Valley Stream, New York

From WPIX of December 10, 2009

Wounded Jewelry Store Owner Detains Robbery Suspect

A Nassau County jewelry store owner was shot in the torso as he faced three would-be robbers and, amazingly, was able to detain one suspect until police arrived.

At 7:11 p.m., three suspects — a woman and two men — attempted to rob Papandrew Jewelers, located at 11 Sunrise Highway at Franklin Avenue in Valley Stream.

One man, Edward Hamilton, 24, of Brooklyn, produced a handgun and the store owner retrieved his own gun from behind a display case, according to police.

The two exchanged gunfire when Hamilton jumped over the display case. The store owner sustained a gunshot in the torso.

Hamilton and Gloria Cortes, 20, of Brooklyn, who was posing as a customer, fled the store. The injured store owner was remarkably able to roll onto the third robber — Bryan Kenner, 28, of South Ozone Park, and hold him until police arrived at the scene.

At 8:53 p.m., Lynbrook detectives found Cortes at a parking lot on Rockaway Avenue and West Jamaica Avenue in Valley Stream.

Bureau of Special Operations Officers were able to located and arrest Hamilton at his home at 10:25 p.m. Hamilton was acting as the group’s lookout.

The store owner was taken to South Nassau Communities Hospital, where he is listed in stable condition.

It is unclear how much jewelry was stolen.

The name of the store owner was not immediately released.

Hamilton, Cortes and Kenner were charged with Attempted Robbery First Degree, two counts of Attempted Robbery Second Degree, Criminal Use of a Firearm Second Degree and Assault Second Degree.

They are scheduled for arraignment at First District Court on Thursday.