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TOLEDO, OHIO -- Police say a man was found shot outside a Toledo fast-food restaurant Friday afternoon after an attempted robbery at a nearby music store.
A man was transported from the Burger King restaurant at Byrne Rd. and Heatherdowns Blvd. around 12:30 p.m.
Police say the man was shot by the co-owner of Allied Music of Ohio as he held one of the music store's clerks at gunpoint. The suspect entered the store at 2027 South Byrne Rd. shortly after 12:00 p.m. asking about a job. He left the store and returned a few minutes later. According to police, the suspect then held a gun to the head of a clerk and led him to the back of the store.
“He holds a gun to the clerks head, forces him to go to the back room to get money,” said Toledo Police Sgt. Phil Toney.
After calling out for help, store co-owner, Eric Bilger, approached with a gun and shot the suspect. The suspect ran out of the store and into the parking lot of a Burger King, adjacent to the music store. “There was an exchange of gunfire, the suspect ran. He was hit a couple of times. He ran through the neighborhood around some buildings,” said Sgt. Toney.
Mark and Eric Bilger are both co-owners of Allied Music of Ohio. They say their store has been robbed three times since the summer of 2009. No other injuries were reported in Friday's incident.
The suspect, Steve James, was taken to the University of Toledo Medical Center where he is listed in stable condition.
