'He has a gun': Armed pharmacist chases off would-be robbers

Susan Parker | The Daily Times

Show Caption Hide Caption WATCH: Armed pharmacist chases off would-be robbers Monday afternoon two armed men walked into Karemore, pointed a gun at the cashier and asked for narcotics. It didn't end well for the armed men.

A pharmacist at Princess Anne's Karemore Pharmacy foiled a pair of armed robbers Monday afternoon.

Wasim Amir, owner of Karemore, said two men wearing ski masks walked into the pharmacy on Somerset Avenue.

One of the men, who looked to be about 6 feet tall, was carrying what appeared to be an assault-style rifle, Amir said.

Tuesday afternoon, the Princess Anne police charged Cody Allen King, 22, and Justin Michael Bull, 22, both of Princess Anne, in conjunction with the attempted armed robbery.

According to a press release from the Princess Anne Police Department, both men are charged with armed robbery, robbery and conspiracy to commit armed robbery.

Amir was sitting in his office when the suspects entered the pharmacy, but looked up when he heard some commotion.

"The man with the rifle ordered everyone down on the ground," Amir said, "including one customer, a woman, who happened to be in the store."

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When Amir realized a robbery was in progress, he said he took his revolver out of a desk drawer and started to walk out into the shop holding the handgun. He was met by the would-be robber, who pointed the rifle at him, he said.

"I don't know much about guns," said Amir, "but it was a big gun and looked like an assault weapon.

"When he saw my revolver," Amir said, "he yelled to the other man to run, saying 'He has a gun' and both of them started running away. I fired once in their direction, but it doesn't seem like anyone was hit."

Amir said the bullet left a hole in the front window of the pharmacy. While this was taking place, other staffers pushed the panic button to call police.

Princess Anne police said officers were dispatched at about 3 p.m. to the pharmacy at 12085 Somerset Ave., where they determined two armed white males had entered and demanded prescription medications.

Police determined there were no injuries and no property was taken by the suspects.

The glass window in front of the pharmacy was replaced before lunchtime Tuesday.

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The investigation is continuing, according to Lt. W.F. Taylor of the Princess Anne Police Department.

Amir, who has owned Karemore in Princess Anne since 2001, also owns Karemore Pharmacy on Snow Hill Road in Salisbury. In November 2011 that pharmacy was robbed twice, he said.

The first time, he said, the robbers demanded narcotics.

"The second time, the pharmacist behind the counter threw some random pill bottles that were sitting on the counter at the robber, who then fled," said Amir. "Before the armed robberies, we had seen several break-ins at that location."

According to Daily Times reporting at the time, the first attempt happened Nov. 9, 2011. On Nov. 29, a second attempted armed robbery was reported. According to that reporting, three suspects were taken into custody within days and charged with armed robbery, robbery, first and second degree assault and other charges.

"After the first robbery attempt, we put in a bigger safe in the Salisbury store," Amir said.

Karemore has, in addition to the gun Amir used Monday to scare off the robbers and the security cameras, an alarm system and panic button that notifies police in case of emergency.

Although his employees are directed to comply with a robber's request rather than resist, Amir said his intervention with the revolver caused the men to run away empty-handed.

He praised the Princess Anne police, saying they had been extremely helpful and professional in their response. He also expressed appreciation to the community.

"I just want to thank the community here," said Amir, "they've been so supportive, so loving and I'm just very thankful to everyone. It's so heartwarming."