Surveillance Shows Struggle That Ended Pawn Shop Robber’s Life
Jul 20, 2018, 6:26 PM | Updated: 9:08 pm
BOUNTIFUL, Utah – Newly-released video from the Bountiful Police Department showed the 20-second confrontation a store clerk had with two accused robbers inside a pawn shop. One of the suspects was killed in the skirmish.
The surveillance video released Friday showed the confrontation a store clerk had between the suspects inside Bountiful Pawn on May 4. Lieutenant Dave Edwards said the video clearly showed that the clerk shot and killed one of the robbers in self-defense.
“We see the very dynamic nature of the violent encounter,” Lt. Edwards said. “Initially his life is threatened with a gun, pointed right at his face and chest.”
As the store clerk rolled a bicycle outside, he was met by the two masked men. As one was seen running behind a counter with a bag, the other pointed a gun at the clerk, reportedly telling him to get on the ground in the back room. Instead, as he turned the corner, the clerk was seen pulling a handgun from the back of his pants, just as the suspect holding a gun charges at him.
“As the suspect tries to dominate him and control him and get him to the floor, he’s concerned,” Lt. Edwards said. “He knows he has a weapon there, and he’s in fear for his life.”
Debris could be seen flying in the video, as the store clerk fired multiple times at the suspect. Lt. Edwards said the struggle continued after the suspect was shot, as the suspect tried to strangle the clerk with his last breath of life.
“Clearly the clerk trained and prepared for this day,” Lt. Edwards said. “In speaking with the clerk, I know that he’s deeply saddened that this had to occur.”
The suspect who was killed was identified as 40-year-old Kleydyz Arbolaez-Hernandez from Denver. The other accused robber, 32-year-old Alexancer Cutino Sanchez, also known as Alexyanis Jimenez, faced 11 counts of robbery and 11 counts of using a firearm in a violent crime.
Lt. Edwards said the two men took part in 17 total robberies together in 4 states. He said two things tied all of the crimes together for investigators – the fact that the suspects used the same gun, and always wore the same clothes.
