"Oh, snap, the cops."
That was 22-year-old Jeremy M. Conklin's reaction when police showed up at L&C Sportswear (10301 East Truman Road in Independence) to break up an armed robbery on June 12.
Conklin later admitted that he was the one who attempted to rob the store while wearing a ski mask, brown sunglasses and a short-sleeve orange
shirt and waving a black revolver.
The attempted robbery occurred around 11:25 a.m. when Conklin allegedly pointed a gun at the store manager and two women (one
with a baby) shopping in the store and demanded they fill garbage bags with shoes and jerseys.
"I better get one thousand dollars worth of
stuff," Conklin allegedly demanded.
The store's manager handed over money from the cash register, but the
manager was able to hit the alarm button.
"I am not afraid to kill anybody," the robber
warned and fired a round into the floor.
After hearing the gunshot, the store manager's brother came out
of the backroom. The robber told him to fill a garbage bag full of
shoes. "You got five minutes or I'm going to shoot you," the robber told
him.
A regular customer tried to get in the store, but couldn't
because one of the garbage bags of merchandise was blocking the store's
door. Seeing the customer, the robber walked toward the door but the
customer ran. "Come back, bitch," the robber yelled.
A short time later, police showed up. The robber started pacing and
said, "I'm
going to have to kill you."
The robber then bolted, running on Ash, leaving the garbage bags of
merchandise behind. But he did get away with $181.89 in cash.
A stolen car -- a 1999 Honda Civic -- unlocked and left running with
the keys in the ignition was parked outside of the store.
Police
found a suspect hiding in a backyard in a bunch of weeds at 1301 South
Ash. He was wearing a short-sleeve orange T-shirt and only one shoe.
Underneath the suspect was a black revolver. He was identified as Jeremy
Conklin.
Conklin's other shoe was found next to a ski mask and
sunglasses behind L&C Sportswear.
In an interview with detectives, Conklin admitted trying to rob the
store. Conklin is now charged with first-degree robbery and armed
criminal action.
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