Read more: Local, State, Crime, Allied Music, Allied Music of Ohio, Eric Bilger, Mark Bilger, South Toledo Shooting, South Toledo Robbery, Burger King, Bryne Heatherdowns, Toledo Police
TOLEDO, OHIO -- The sound of gunshots sang out from a south Toledo music store Friday.
Just before bullets punctured the front window, a man walked into Allied Music on South Byrne Rd. near Heatherdowns, initially inquiring about a job. After a couple of minutes, he left the store, but then quickly returned, pulling out a gun wanting to rob the place.
“He holds a gun to the clerks head, forces him to go to the back room to get money,” said Sergeant Phil Toney with the Toledo Police Department. While in the back room, the clerk called out to a second worker the store owner, Eric Bilger, for help.
Turns out Bilger had a gun too. “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 Toney.
The would be robber, Steve James, ended up across the street at a Burger King where he collapsed in the parking lot. “He was shot once in his body someplace and I believe in the hand,” said Toney.
James is now at U-T-M-C in stable condition.
The store owner and the clerk were not hurt.
