Suspect Shot, Killed During Robbery Attempt
La VERGNE, Tenn. – Police have released the identity of the would-be robber who was shot and killed after barging into a store and attacking the owner with a box cutter.
The owner of the Discount Tobacco and Beer on Murfreesboro Road said he was robbed by a suspect who came into his store before 10:30 p.m. Monday.
The store had just closed. Police said the owner and another person were standing outside talking when 35-year-old Jamie Sellars walked up from behind the building.
Sellars was wearing a black hoodie and jeans. He started out by asking a question before lunging at him with the box cutter.
“He came out from behind (and) asked if they were open. They were not, so he attacked the owner with his box cutters,” said Kathy Tyson with the La Vergne Police Department.
The owner sustained a cut on his neck. Despite the injury, the store owner reached for his gun and shot the Sellars one time. Sellars was able to leave the store, but did not get far.
Officers from the Metro Nashville Police Department arrived a short time later. K-9 units were able to find the body of the suspect right next door.
Sellars was treated at the scene but was pronounced dead before being transported to the hospital.
As most people already know, you shouldn’t bring a knife to a gunfight; the odds are stacked against you.
This scenario is why it is so important for businesses to be armed. Had this business owner not been armed, not only would he have been slashed in the throat but his stored would have been robbed.
Plus, the bad guy would get away and probably strike another business before long; injuring (or killing) another hard working innocent person.
When store owners or employees arm themselves, and defend themselves when situations like this arise – it sends a strong message.
It tells other would be bad guys that your business or its employees will not be victims.
It tells bad guys that they are going to put their life on the line should they try their criminal activity at your business.
If enough business owners and their employees carried defensively to protect themselves, the world would see a lot less scumbags trying to cut people throats with boxcutters for a few bucks.
What is almost as bad as the crime itself is for family members to chime in on the comments section of the article and tell people that their lowlife family member was a “great guy” and people are bad for supporting the store owner defending himself with lethal force.
I understand their loss and sadness, but please do not try and convince anyone that this person was a good guy – let alone a great guy. He was a menace to society and a violent criminal; and he paid the price for it.
