Texas Jewelry Store Owner Engages in Shoot-Out With Robber

On May 9, an attempted robbery turned violent when a man posing as a customer tried to rob Randy’s Fine Jewelers in Beaumont, Texas.

The suspect, identified as Joshua Nowland, 35, revealed a gun and ordered a customer and employee to lie on the floor. Nowland then allegedly fired a bullet at the store’s owner, hitting his upper leg. The store’s owner retrieved his own handgun, striking Nowland several times in his upper body. The store’s owner held Nowland at gunpoint outside the store until police officers arrived at the scene.

Both Nowland and the store’s owner were taken to St. Elizabeth hospital for treatment. The owner suffered a wound in his leg but remains in good condition. Nowland, however, had to receive surgery to remove a bullet in his abdominal cavity. After surgery, he will remain in the custody of Beaumont police.

According to the Jeweler’s Security Alliance Manual of Jewelry Security:

While there are cases of jewelers successfully pulling a gun and shooting the robber, these are exceptions. The robber is the aggressor, and has the tremendous advantage of gaining control over the jeweler with his gun before the jeweler is able to react. Contrary to general belief, a handgun is not a defensive weapon, unless it is in your hand, ready for use, before the robber takes his gun out. Even if a jeweler follows all the rules to discourage robberies, the jeweler may still be a robbery target. JSA’s main advice if you do have a robbery is this: Do not resist, and cooperate fully.

“Thank goodness the jeweler is still alive and wasn’t more seriously injured,” John Kennedy, president of JSA, says.

For more advice from JSA, check out:

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