Elderly dollar store owner shot on Detroit's west side - My29 WFTC Minneapolis-St. Paul

By Maurielle Lue
Fox 2 News

DETROIT (WJBK) -- A store owner was badly beaten and then shot in the stomach Wednesday morning by a man police say was demanding money.

After the hold up at the Dollar Stores on West Warren, the victim stumbled across the street for help.

"It was around 9:45, ten o'clock, and he came in running, blood all over his face, and he was limping and he told he had been shot, if I could call the ambulance for him.  Of course, that's what I did," I was told.

It's a violent neighborhood.  No one would speak on camera, but the hero who called 911 said the victim was a man with a good heart, who opened the store to give back to the community.  It seems had the thief just asked nicely, he probably could have gotten anything he wanted.

"Gives stuff for free.  Not looking here to make any money, just occupied.  He was bored.  He's an older man.  Something for him to do.  It's sad that he has to go through something like this."

Police were already in the area responding to another call.  The 68-year-old store owner was rushed to the hospital.

Most people wouldn't want to go through something like this along, but friends said this time it was a good thing.

"Thank God his wife wasn't with him.  Usually him and his wife work together.  Thank God he was here alone," I was told.