San Diego

The proprietor of a Normal Heights shoe repair store shot and seriously wounded a would-be robber Wednesday afternoon after the man brandished a gun, police said.

Richard Solomon, 20, address unknown, was shot twice at 3:24 p.m. Wednesday in a robbery attempt at Caruso’s Shoe Repair on Adams Avenue in Normal Heights, police said. Solomon, who was arrested on suspicion of armed robbery, was listed in critical condition at UC San Diego Medical Center, where he is being treated under guard, police said.

The shooting, by proprietor Salvatore Caruso, appeared to be justified, said police, who are investigating the incident.

As Caruso was handing his money to a gunman, police said, he pulled out a .38-caliber revolver and fired three shots, hitting Solomon twice in the chest.

Caruso told police he recognized the gunman from a robbery at the shop two weeks ago. The earlier incident prompted Caruso to keep a gun at his shop, police said.