Fort Wayne, Ind. (Indiana’s NewsCenter) – A local business owner remains hospitalized at a local hospital after he was beaten during an armed robbery at Do’s Jewelers in Fort Wayne.
Rang Q. Do, 54, of Fort Wayne was injured by one of the two men who entered the jewelry store late Wednesday morning. Do's condition has improved and was last listed in fair condition.
The robbery happened just after 10 a.m. Wednesday on the 2800 block of East State Street. Police say two men went in the store with handguns and demanded money and jewelry.
Police did make a few traffic stops related to this robbery Wednesday. One of those stops led to the arrest of 18-year-old Stafford Staples Jr. Police believe he was the driver of the get away vehicle. He is charged with a class B felony. He is currently being held in the Allen County Jail.
The other suspect was arrested on Thursday. Theron Smith, 19, of Fort Wayne was taken into police custody and and transported to the Allen County Jail on a felony charge of Robbery-Causing Bodily Injury.
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"It's pathetic. We work hard for our money, why can't you work hard for your money like everyone else in the world?” said Brian Do, son of the store owner.
Brian has worked at the store with his father before, but hasn't been there recently because he was serving in the military in Afghanistan. He just returned home.
"I still wish I could have been here when it happened, to help him out,” said Do.
Although Brian wasn't there he says the people who work at the nearby businesses all stick together.
"We all know each other down here, so, it's kind of like a whole family store down here and just for this to happen, it's terrible,” said Do.
That sense of family Brian talks about is what police say really helps them in solving these types of cases.
"A lot of people in this plaza, a lot of people paying attention, because as they see these two individuals fleeing the scene they're right away calling. They're making that call to 911, which is so important,” said Raquel Foster, PIO, Fort Wayne Police.
Brian told Indiana’s NewsCenter the men tried to get away with a large bag of jewelry but police aren't sure yet exactly how much was taken from the store.
Early on Wednesday, around 9 a.m., two men robbed the Laredo's restaurant on Broadway near Taylor in Fort Wayne. Police say one man had a hand gun and another had a stun gun. The two demanded cash from the register.
No injuries were reported during the restaurant robbery. Police are not sure yet if the two cases are related.
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