A Georgia couple was stopped from carrying out an armed robbery at a local convenience store when customers and bystanders intervened with their own concealed carry firearms.
The Gilmer County Sheriff’s Office announced that Shawn Sutton and his wife Melody Sutton were arrested on Monday.
Shawn was charged with armed robbery, aggravated assault, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and his wife, Melody was charged with armed robbery, aggravated assault, intimidation, and taking control of a substance.
As per a news release from the Ellijay Police Department, Shawn Sutton entered a local Ideal Mart just before 6:30 p.m. EST. pretending to be a customer, buying an energy drink as his wife was waiting outside in a getaway vehicle.
Shawn then wrapped a pair of women’s underwear around his neck and pulled out a gun on the store clerk, and demanded she empties the store register.
As Georgia is an open carry state, customers and other bystanders were armed and three individuals jumped to aid the store clerk and prevent the robbery. The first individual used his concealed firearm to aide the clerk, a second person quickly ran to his car to grab his pistol, and a third bystander who was at a nearby gas station grabbed his concealed carry pistol and rushed inside the store to assist.
When the first customer noticed that Shawn had surrendered and was disarmed, he quickly made the call and instructed the other two customers not to shoot at the suspect.
When law enforcement arrived on the scene, Shawn initially resisted arrest and the police had to use a taser to subdue him. After a bit of a hassle, the cops were able to take Shawn into custody.
Other officers arriving at the scene found Melody sitting in the couple’s car outside the store, and she was taken into custody without any resistance.
As of publishing this article, the couple remains in the Gilmer County Jail, with no bail set.
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H/T: WFTV9 | Fox5 Atlanta