VALENCIA : 2 Shoot Jeweler During Robbery

The owner of a Valencia jewelry store was in critical condition Wednesday following a gunfight with robbers, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said.

Two robbers entered Addie’s Gold & Jewelry at 24311 Magic Mountain Parkway at 1:45 p.m., smashed two display cases and took an undisclosed amount of jewelry, including earrings and pendants, Lt. Bob Elson said.

The store’s owner, James Gary Popejoy, 51, of Saugus, opened fire on the robbers, one of whom shot him in the head and chest with a small revolver, Elson said. Popejoy was in critical condition at Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital in Valencia, hospital spokeswoman Susan Mandy said.

It was unknown whether either of the robbers was injured in the gunfight, Elson said. The robbers were last seen driving east on Magic Mountain Parkway in a white Buick, which had been reported stolen Wednesday morning in Inglewood and was later discovered about half a mile from the jewelry store. One suspect was described as a black man 18 to 25 years old, 5 feet, 8 inches tall and wearing a navy blue T-shirt and blue pants, Elson said. The other suspect was described as a black man 5 feet 10.