Clerk Shoots Armed Robber, Police Say

A Van Nuys liquor store clerk shot and wounded a man who attempted to rob him, Los Angeles police said Tuesday.

The wounded man fled but was later arrested along with two alleged accomplices when paramedics were called to treat him.

The shooting occurred at Allan’s Liquor and Junior Market in the 16000 block of Vanowen Street about 9:20 p.m. Monday, Sgt. Joe Brazas said.

Brazas said Hubert Higgins, 24, of Van Nuys, was shot once in the chest during the attempted robbery. Police refused to release details about the shooting but said Higgins displayed a handgun in the waistband of his pants when he confronted the unidentified clerk and took money from the cash register.

After the robber left the store, the clerk drew a handgun he carried in his own waistband and followed him out the door, said a store manager who asked not to be identified.

The clerk confronted the robber in front of the store and during a struggle for the clerk’s gun, it fired twice, striking the robber once, the manager said. The robber dropped the money and ran.

Police said Higgins ran to a waiting car being driven by his wife, Melody Higgins, 23, and carrying a passenger, Carl McNeil, 23. The car drove to the nearby intersection of Victory Boulevard and Haskell Avenue, where Melody Higgins called paramedics from a pay phone.

Hubert Higgins was taken to Northridge Hospital Medical Center, where he was in satisfactory condition, officials said. His wife and McNeil were being held at the Van Nuys Jail.