WHEELING - An Elm Grove Pharmacy employee shot and killed a man who was trying to rob the business at about 5 p.m. Friday.
"An unknown white man tried to rob the Elm Grove Pharmacy and brandished a hand gun," said Wheeling police Deputy Chief Martin Kimball.
Kimball said later he could not give any more details as the West Virginia State Police had taken over the investigation. State Police detectives and uniformed officers worked the scene for several hours. At press time, the robber's body still had not been removed from the building.
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Photo by Shelley Hanson
State Police work the scene of a robbery and shooting Friday at the Elm Grove Pharmacy. Wheeling police say a pharmacy employee apparently shot and killed the robber.
State Police Sgt. D.L. Robinson said he would not release any information as the incident still was under investigation. He said detectives still were trying to "figure out" a few things before releasing any information or before moving the body.
A man - believed to be the pharmacy employee - was seen sitting in the front passenger's seat of a police cruiser. The man was visibly upset.
Several people came to the scene inquiring about employees, but police were not immediately releasing any information. The scene was taped off by police to keep onlookers off the property.
In addition to Wheeling officers and State Police, representatives from the Brooke County Medical Examiner and State Medical Examiner offices were at the scene.
The pharmacy is located at 101 E. Bethlehem Blvd. across from the Osiris Shriners' Monument Place.
Wheeling Fire Department personnel were on the scene throughout the investigation. The scene attracted many onlookers at the busy Elm Grove intersection.
Friday's robbery marked the second time in less than a week that a local pharmacy was targeted by a gun-wielding robber. On Monday, the Rite-Aid Pharmacy in Warwood was robbed by a man demanding prescription pain medications. That robber made off with nearly 3,400 pills. He has not been caught. Police have not indicated whether the two robberies are connected.
