A local card shop owner shoots, kills armed robber in self-defense
cjb1977
Posts: 69
Comic book store owner shoots, kills armed robber in self-defense
By Kat Zeman
Daily Herald Staff Writer
Posted Saturday, November 04, 2006
When the yellow police tape came up, Mary Rodriquez knew something went wrong.
The Chicago woman is used to seeing it in the city, but not in Roselle — a quaint bedroom community that hasn’t had a homicide, justified or otherwise, in more than 20 years.
“I’m shocked that it happened in the suburbs,” said Rodriquez, a manager at Skippy’s Gyros in the Village Commons shopping center in Roselle.
The strip mall was the scene of an attempted armed robbery that resulted in an exchange of gunfire and the death of the would-be robber Friday, police said.
The shooting occurred at Westlake Cards, Comics and Coins, 1234 W. Lake St., police said.
DuPage County State’s Attorney Joseph Birkett said the shooting was justified and no charges would be filed against the shopkeeper, Glen Soustek of Hanover Park.
What ended in deadly gunfire began at around 10:30 a.m., when a man carrying a black bag walked into the comic book store, authorities said.
He proceeded to the counter in the back of the store and pulled a handgun out of the bag, police said. He then jumped over the counter and pointed the gun at Soustek.
Almost simultaneously, the owner — who was at his desk on the opposite side of the counter — pulled his own gun from the desk and the two fired at each other, authorities said.
The armed robber — later identified as Geoffrey A. Webb of St. Louis, a 40-year-old convicted felon — was shot several times, including the head, and died at the scene.
Soustek suffered a single gunshot wound to the arm. After the shooting, he ran out of his store, seeking help at the neighboring Silver Lake Restaurant.
He was later treated and released from Alexian Brothers Medical Center in Elk Grove Village.
A woman answering the phone Friday afternoon at Silver Lake, who gave only her first name, Lam, said Soustek came in asking for someone to call 911.
“He’s a nice man that we see all the time, so I was surprised to see him hurt,” she said. “Then I don’t know how long it took, but a lot of police started meeting in here. It’s very crazy inside right now.”
Upon arrival, police discovered Webb behind the counter, gun still in hand, they said. Emergency workers attempted to treat him, but he was pronounced dead at 10:54 a.m.
Authorities said they also discovered a mask, duct tape and handcuffs in his bag. Later, police learned Webb was convicted of an armed robbery in 1994 and served time in prison. He was on parole at the time of the shooting, authorities said.
Birkett said his office will not press charges against Soustek because he acted in self-defense. The incident was recorded on the store’s video camera, Birkett said.
“This is a clear case of justifiable force,” he said. “It was clearly an imminent threat to the store owner’s life.”
Soustek has a firearm owner’s identification card and his gun was registered, Birkett said. State law allows a store owner to possess a handgun, he said.
“He was protecting himself,” Birkett said.
Meanwhile, business owners and employees at the Village Commons shopping center reacted with both fear and shock upon hearing the news.
“We never had anything like this,” said Alfredo Angeloni, manager of Villaggio Ristorante, only a few doors down from the comic book store. “It’s a shocker for all of us.”
Ninos Tamras, owner of the White Oaks Pantry, said a robbery such as this is something he did not expect in Roselle.
“This is a pretty good area. I’m surprised,” he said. “Especially that it happened during daylight.”
Roselle Mayor Gayle Smolinski similarly said the news stunned her.
“Anytime violence hits close to home you’re shocked,” Smolinski said.
http://www.dailyherald.com/news/dupagestory.asp?id=246481&cc=d&tc=ros&t=Roselle
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This is probably the shop I frequent the most. He has one of those jack of all kinds collectible shops. Most of his shop is comics and cards. He does advertise buy/sell gold/silver and does coins too.
By Kat Zeman
Daily Herald Staff Writer
Posted Saturday, November 04, 2006
When the yellow police tape came up, Mary Rodriquez knew something went wrong.
The Chicago woman is used to seeing it in the city, but not in Roselle — a quaint bedroom community that hasn’t had a homicide, justified or otherwise, in more than 20 years.
“I’m shocked that it happened in the suburbs,” said Rodriquez, a manager at Skippy’s Gyros in the Village Commons shopping center in Roselle.
The strip mall was the scene of an attempted armed robbery that resulted in an exchange of gunfire and the death of the would-be robber Friday, police said.
The shooting occurred at Westlake Cards, Comics and Coins, 1234 W. Lake St., police said.
DuPage County State’s Attorney Joseph Birkett said the shooting was justified and no charges would be filed against the shopkeeper, Glen Soustek of Hanover Park.
What ended in deadly gunfire began at around 10:30 a.m., when a man carrying a black bag walked into the comic book store, authorities said.
He proceeded to the counter in the back of the store and pulled a handgun out of the bag, police said. He then jumped over the counter and pointed the gun at Soustek.
Almost simultaneously, the owner — who was at his desk on the opposite side of the counter — pulled his own gun from the desk and the two fired at each other, authorities said.
The armed robber — later identified as Geoffrey A. Webb of St. Louis, a 40-year-old convicted felon — was shot several times, including the head, and died at the scene.
Soustek suffered a single gunshot wound to the arm. After the shooting, he ran out of his store, seeking help at the neighboring Silver Lake Restaurant.
He was later treated and released from Alexian Brothers Medical Center in Elk Grove Village.
A woman answering the phone Friday afternoon at Silver Lake, who gave only her first name, Lam, said Soustek came in asking for someone to call 911.
“He’s a nice man that we see all the time, so I was surprised to see him hurt,” she said. “Then I don’t know how long it took, but a lot of police started meeting in here. It’s very crazy inside right now.”
Upon arrival, police discovered Webb behind the counter, gun still in hand, they said. Emergency workers attempted to treat him, but he was pronounced dead at 10:54 a.m.
Authorities said they also discovered a mask, duct tape and handcuffs in his bag. Later, police learned Webb was convicted of an armed robbery in 1994 and served time in prison. He was on parole at the time of the shooting, authorities said.
Birkett said his office will not press charges against Soustek because he acted in self-defense. The incident was recorded on the store’s video camera, Birkett said.
“This is a clear case of justifiable force,” he said. “It was clearly an imminent threat to the store owner’s life.”
Soustek has a firearm owner’s identification card and his gun was registered, Birkett said. State law allows a store owner to possess a handgun, he said.
“He was protecting himself,” Birkett said.
Meanwhile, business owners and employees at the Village Commons shopping center reacted with both fear and shock upon hearing the news.
“We never had anything like this,” said Alfredo Angeloni, manager of Villaggio Ristorante, only a few doors down from the comic book store. “It’s a shocker for all of us.”
Ninos Tamras, owner of the White Oaks Pantry, said a robbery such as this is something he did not expect in Roselle.
“This is a pretty good area. I’m surprised,” he said. “Especially that it happened during daylight.”
Roselle Mayor Gayle Smolinski similarly said the news stunned her.
“Anytime violence hits close to home you’re shocked,” Smolinski said.
http://www.dailyherald.com/news/dupagestory.asp?id=246481&cc=d&tc=ros&t=Roselle
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This is probably the shop I frequent the most. He has one of those jack of all kinds collectible shops. Most of his shop is comics and cards. He does advertise buy/sell gold/silver and does coins too.
0
Comments
Sounds to me like Mr. Soustek did everything correctly
Steve
Rich
Edited to add: glad the shop owner got in a head shot, hope the robber suffered a little before dying though! Nothing better than the death sentence at the scene of the crime, well, intended crime!
the "rd detective agency" says, "this same shoppe was broken into 4 years earlier"!
This card shop was also broken into in 2002!
$5,000 REWARD! There is a $5,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person(s) responsible for the burglary of Westlake Cards, Comics and Coins, Inc on the evening/morning of June 26th/27th, 2002; as well as the recovery of the goods stolen during that burglary.
Sometime between 8 pm on the evening of June 26th and 9:30 am on the morning of June 27th, 2002 our store was broken into and robbed. Entrance was made through a neighboring businesses wall. The following is a partial list of items missing. The accompanying picture is meant for packaging identification only; the items shown were not among those stolen. Anyone having any information on this burglary please call us directly at Westlake Cards, Comics & Coins, Inc. (630) 307-9220
The following items were stolen from our store in the early morning 6/27/02. Most of the items (either general or specific) were in standard white cardboard 2x2's - 4 staples to each, stapled diagonally to the corners and tight to the coins:
General items:
6 rolls 1979 uncirculated Susan B Anthony
10 rolls Uncirculated Kennedy Half Dollars (dates between 1971 and 1976)
6 rolls Bicentennial Eisenhower dollars uncirculated
10 rolls Uncirculated Statehood Quarters (Mass, Conn, Ga. Md, New Hampshire)
6 rolls Uncirculated 40% Kennedy Halves
2 rolls Uncirculated 90% Kennedy Halves
10 piece misc. Federal reserve note (liars poker)
The contents of 1 - 10'' double row box of coins containing circulated Lincoln cents from 1909-1933
The contents of 1 - 10'' dbl row box of coins containing circulated Lincoln cents 1934 and up
The contents of 1 - 10 dbl row box of coins containing circulated Barber half dollars 1892-1912
The contents of 1 - 10'' dbl row box of coins containing circulated Walking Liberty half dollars 1916-1936
The contents of 1 - 10''dbl row box of coins containing circulated Barber dimes 1892-1916
The contents of 1 - 10'' dbl row box of coins containing circulated Barber quarters 1892-1916
The contents of 1 - 10'' dbl row box of coins containing circulated Barber half dollars 1892-1916
The contents of 1 - 10'' dbl row box of coins containing circulated and uncirculated Morgan & Peace dollars 1878-1935
The contents of 1 - 10'' dbl row box of coins containing assorted proof single coins 1955-2002
The contents of 1 - 10'' dbl row box of coins containing uncirculated Statehood quarters 1999-2002
The contents of 1 - 10'' dbl row box of coins containing uncirculated American Eagle silver dollars 1986-2002 (includes approx. 15 pcs of 1996)
The contents of 1 - 10'' dbl row box of coins containing circulated and uncirculated Washington quarters 1932-1955
The contents of 1 - 10'' dbl row box of coins containing uncirculated Washington quarters 1956-2002
The contents of 2- 14'' and 1 - 10'' dbl row boxes containing circulated and uncirculated foreign coins from Great Britian through ''Z'' and Misc.
The contents of 1 - 10'' dbl row box of coins containing uncirculated Lincoln cents 1938-1973
The contents of 1 - 10'' dbl row box of coins containing circulated seated dimes, quarters, and half dollars 1840-1891
General store stock of over 1000 pcs US coins Half cents through dollars with over 250 pcs uncirculated common date Morgan and Peace Dollars, in addition to the following -
15 assorted Canadian proof sets 1967-1988
150 assorted foreign crowns circulated & uncirculated retail price $5-$30
approx 50 United States mint sets assorted years 1969-1996
approx 25 U.S. proof sets 1964-2001
approx 100 au-unc 1921 Morgan dollars
approx 100 au-unc 1922 Peace dollars
approx 100 au-unc 1923 Peace dollars
elongated cents (Chicago World's Fair and 1933-34 Century of Progress)
Bust halves (12 pieces Good-VF Common Dates)
2 ANACS Walkers (MS-64's) ugly
NGC Peace dollar (63) heavily toned
NGC Morgan dollar (64) heavily toned
6 White House proof dollars
Approx 30 pcs modern issue commemorative coinage
large quantity 1878-s to 1882-s uncirculated Morgans
approx 35 various Home Shopping Club type promotional coin sets, Americana series etc.
1 dbl row box German/Austrian Notgeld notes approx 200 pieces $1-$10 retail each
uncirculated German & Swiss (20 & 50 Mark) (20 & 50 Franc) notes
2 Mexican 8 Reales in boxes (Probably 1808 and 1821)
11 ancients (low grade - unattributed)
casino tokens approz 10 pcs. Silver slugs surrounded by brass
Specific Items:
1925 MS-65 Peace dollar
Proof-like MS-63 1904-0 Morgan
2001 Buffalo dollar and currency set
African International Games coins proof approx 20 piece from 1984
50 State Flags 1st day cover set (2/23/76) - was housed in a dark green Lindner FDC album
Gold foil FDC's (Martin Luther King, C3-Inverted, etc.)
1 - 7'' by 9'' Black National/Denison Notebook with foreign topical stamp sets (Countries ''A'' through ''L'') set up in HECO style 2 and style 4 sheets (see illustration)
1993 proof 1/10th oz gold eagle
1986 Statue of Liberty 3 coin proof set
1922 20$ gold certificate would be f-vf but slight tear at center top
1928-A $100 note xf
8 circulated 1928 $20 notes
Roosevelt dime set circulated in Whitman classic album
Washington quarter set in Whitman Classic Album (circulated) missing 1932-D and 1932-S
3 piece gold Constitution set (Proof)
12 - 1971 ''Brown Ikes'' 40% Proof Eisenhower Dollars
6 - 1971 ''Blue Ikes'' 40% Uncirculated Eisenhower Dollars
6 - 1972 ''Blue Ikes'' 40% Uncirculated Eisnehower Dollars
8 each 1973 and 1973-D Uncirculated Eisenhower Dollars
3'' bronze medallion Nixon - Agnew Inauguration (Possible Registration #18184)
4 German proof sets 1964
1 Tunisian proof set 1969
10 1958 Uncirculated Canadian Totem Dollars
1932 Chinese Coin (Y#344) Junk with birds above and rising sun AU/UNC was in Air-Tite Holder
1862 German States Coin - Frankfurt am Main 1 Kruezer Eagle with Long Body
5 2002 10 piece U.S. proof sets
5 2002 5 piece U.S. proof sets
5 2002 proof U.S. silver eagles
2 circulated 1943 over 2 nickles
2 - Circulated 1944 D over S cents
1 - Uncirculated War-Time Nickel Set
6 - Circulated War-Time Nickel Sets
1857 double die flying eagle cent (VG)
1875 - S 20 cent piece (good)
1875 - S 20 cent piece (very good)
4 - 1927-S Standing Liberty Quarters (Good to Very Good)
1941 - S Mercury dime FB-64
(2) 1896 - s Barber halves ag & good
1883 cc uncirculated dollars
1884 cc uncirculated dollars
10 2001 proof silver eagles
20 each uncirculated 1964,1965,1966 Canadian dollars in original cello wraps
2 - 1939 Canadian Dollars (VFine and EXFine)
2 low grade circulated 1921-S Walkers (one piece has extreme rim damage)
1 1916-S Walker (Good)
1855 Half-Cent (Very Fine) Mottled Coloring
Approx 30 pcs $2 bills Series 1976 Consecutivly Numbered
Approx 12 pcs 1968 Mexico 50 peso Olympic Coins
1921 Indian Rupee uncirculated
1970 d Washington quarter large die cud (between 12 o'clock and 2 o'clock)
Washington quarter on nickel stock 1977
2 - 1 pound silver Morgan dollar proofs
1 - 1/2 pound silver Morgan Proof (Registration #160-95)
2 - 1 pound silver Walking Liberty proofs
1851 Swiss 1Franc Uncirculated
1856 British Half-Crown Uncirculated
Custer 1 0z silver round
12 or more Illinois Sesquicentennial Medallions (1818-1968) Bronze and Silver; Small, Medium and Large
Miniature Gold Ronald Reagan ''Coin''
Silver Proof Gerald Ford Eyewitness Medal
1986 100 Franc French Piefort piece
1964 South Africa Proof Set
12 or more Israel Commems from the 60's and 70's
12 or more German Commems from the 60's and 70's
Numerous foreign Proof Sets - Panama, BVI, Bahama's, etc
Blank Cent Planchets
Civil War Tokens
Several new condition 14 kt coin bezels
Hummmm! No cards were stolen! maybe the crook didn't 'know squat' about sports cards!
rd
Quicksilver Messenger Service - Smokestack Lightning (Live) 1968
Quicksilver Messenger Service - The Hat (Live) 1971