Armed robbers and Ellenton jewelry store employee trade gunfire, Manatee deputies say
Shots were fired during an armed robbery attempt at a jewelry store in the Ellenton Premium Outlets on Wednesday, the sheriff’s office said.
The Manatee County Sheriff’s Office said no one was injured and nothing was taken in the attempted robbery. Two men fled the scene before deputies could make an arrest, according to a news release.
Two unidentified men wearing masks and blue shirts entered the Gold Palace jewelry store inside the Ellenton Premium Outlets, 5295 Factory Shops Blvd., Ellenton, at around 2:50 p.m., according to a news release. The sheriff’s office said they were armed with at least one handgun.
After entering the store, the sheriff’s office said one of the men approached an employee and shot a round toward the back of the store. The shot did not strike anyone, deputies said.
In response, the sheriff’s office said an employee pulled out a gun and shot in the direction of the alleged armed robbers but missed.
No one was hit by either gunfire, according to a news release.
The sheriff’s office said the two men then fled the store and ran toward the parking lot, where they were chased by an off-duty deputy who was on the property and responded to the store shortly after the shots were fired.
The off-duty deputy secured the store and made sure no one was injured before facing the two unknown men, who the sheriff’s office said drove off in what appeared to be a silver Toyota Highlander.
Paramedics were called for someone inside the store who was having a medical episode following the incident, but the sheriff’s office reported no one was hit by gunfire during the attempted robbery.
The investigation remains active, according to the sheriff’s office.
This story was originally published August 14, 2024 at 5:50 PM.
