Two pawn shop employees in Edmonton are recovering from non-life-threatening injuries after they were shot at during a robbery on Dec. 16.
The robbery, which took place at Big C Pawn on 118 Avenue near 46 Street, was called in to police around 1:45 p.m.
Police said that two males entered the shop around 1:30 p.m. One smashed display cabinets, dumping handfuls of jewelry into a bag, and also stole cash.
The other suspect went into the office where the employees were working at desks and pointed a gun at them. Before leaving, the second man had the employees lie on the ground and shot them. The pair fled on foot.
Both employees received medical attention and are now back to work. Both male employees were shot in the leg.
This level of violence, especially when unprovoked, is very “odd” and “unnecessary,” said Det. Mike Walkom, adding that the employees followed all the suspect’s demands.
Mitchel Zohner, who owns Big C Pawn with his mother, was working in the store that day. He said it blew his mind that they were shot even after following all orders and complying with the suspects.
“I have kids at home. I’m not going to fight anybody,” he said, adding that his daughter had been at the store around the same time the day before.
“I’m just kinda glad it was that day instead of when she was here.”
This is the first time the store has ever been robbed in the seven years they’ve been in this location, Zhoner said, and coming back to work has its challenges.
“It’s a little bit rough around the edges, it’s a bit traumatizing… but it gets easier as the days go.”
But at the end of the day, Zhoner said he’s grateful he got to go home to his kids and that no one was seriously injured.
“What if he took my life? Who’s gonna take care of my kids?”
Police are asking for the public’s help in identifying and locating the two male suspects.
The first suspect was wearing a white facemask, black hoodie, black toque and black pants, police said.
The other suspect was wearing grey sweatpants, red underwear, a black jacket and shoes, tan and black gloves and a red-brimmed baseball hat.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the EPS at 780-423-4567 or #377 from a cellphone. Anonymous information can also be submitted to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online.