Danville Pawn Shop Shooting: Three Slain While Child Calls 911


Friday in the Kentucky town of Danville a pawn shop shooting claimed three lives. Police say that at around 9 am an armed man entered ABC Gold Games & More pawn shop. In a robbery attempt gone wrong, the gunman open fired on the shop owners and a customer, wounding them fatally. Authorities say that the shooter is still at large.

The victims have been identified as pawn shop owners Angela and Michael Hockensmith, 38 and 34, and customer Daniel P. Smith, 60, USA Today reports. They died from gun wounds before emergency responders arrived on the scene.

The Hockensmith’s two children, a 9-year-old boy and a 14-month-old girl were inside the store during the shooting, but neither were injured by the gunman. Shortly after the incident, the boy called 911.

Business-co owner Steve Divine tells sources that the children are now staying with their grandparents. Divine says that the 9-year-old is his “hero” after the boy carried his sister to the shop office and hid her during the shooting.

Although the gunman behind the Danville pawn shop shooting is still free, lock downs of local schools and businesses were lifted after two hours. No other incidents have been reported.

The ATF, or Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, is offering a $10,000 reward to anyone who can provide information leading to the shooter’s arrest, SF Gate reports. While descriptions of the gunman were initially conflicted, Danville Police Chief Tony Gray says that they are now looking for a white male aged between 40 and 50. He is described as being “heavy-set” and having a “pot belly.” During the attempted robbery, the man was wearing a green camouflage jacket.

After shooting the pawn shop owners and their customer, the man fled through the attached garage and down a back alleyway. Law enforcement is carrying out a manhunt for the person behind the Danville pawn shop shooting.

[Image via ShutterStock]

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