KENT COUNTY, MI – Sheriff’s detectives say two of five robbers remain at large Friday, Jan. 23, after a smash-and-grab holdup at Paul Medawar Fine Jewelry.

One of the Medawar workers fired a shot during the afternoon holdup, but did not hit any of the suspects, police said.

Kent County sheriff’s Lt. Ron Gates said that robbers armed with hammers threatened employees while attempting a smash-and-grab robbery at the store at 4518 Plainfield Ave. NE. They fled after the shot was fired.

Gates said detectives will meet Saturday morning with Kent County prosecutors to determine charges against the three suspects in custody. Gates was meeting with other detectives to review evidence against the suspects.

Police arrested three of the group about a half-hour after the holdup. Officers from several agencies conducted a felony stop on the vehicle with three suspects on eastbound I-96 near M-6.

Police had shut down entrance ramps for eastbound traffic. Authorities were prepared to use stop sticks to puncture the getaway vehicle’s tires if the driver did not stop.

The robbers left Medawar in a stolen vehicle and were seen splitting up at a nearby apartment complex, police said. Kent County sheriff's Sgt. Bryan Muir was responding to the robbery call when he witnessed the black Impala traveling east on I-96. He waited for backup before trying to stop the suspects.

The two who remain on the run were traveling in a silver Dodge Durango, police said.

Last spring, store owner Paul Medawar and his son opened fire on robbers, striking one in the torso.

They underwent firearms training after a 2010 robbery.

John Agar covers crime for MLive/Grand Rapids Press E-mail John Agar: jagar@mlive.com and follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/ReporterJAgar