Robbery Leaves Pawnshop Owner Dead

The owner of a pawnshop in an unincorporated area of Anaheim was shot and killed Saturday during an afternoon robbery in which one of the gunmen apologized for the shooting, authorities said.

The bandits raided the store about 3:45 p.m., bound the hands of owner Ronald J. Roach, then fired one shot that struck the businessman, said Orange County Sheriff’s Investigator Steve Doan.

Paramedics rushed Roach to Western Medical Center--Anaheim, all the while trying to treat him for a heart attack, Doan said. The 59-year-old grandfather was pronounced dead at the hospital, but the cause of death is unknown.

It was unclear who fired the shot, but the robber with the handgun reportedly said to Roach: “I’m sorry if I shot you. I didn’t mean to do it. My mom is sick. This is why I’m doing this.”

The two men entered Katella Jewelry & Loan at Katella and Magnolia avenues armed with a semiautomatic handgun and a rifle.

Along with the owner, a friend in a wheelchair and a store employee were present in the shop, authorities said. Both of the witnesses were unidentified. Only the owner was hurt before the robbers fled with an unknown amount of cash and jewelry, Doan said.

Michael Nhan, 58, owner of Stanton Liquor, which is next door to the pawn shop, said he didn’t hear anything during the robbery.

“He was a very good friend of mine,” Nhan said of Roach. “It’s real sad. . . . He was friendly with everyone.”

Chris Seelig, 28, an employee of Stanton Liquor, was alarmed to discover that the robbery occurred so close.

“It could have happened to my boss,” Seelig said. “It’s too close. It could have happened to anyone.”

Investigators described the robber who apologized for the shooting as Latino, 18 to 19 years old, 150 pounds and 5 feet, 5 inches tall. He was wearing dark-colored pantyhose over his head, black pants and a blue T-shirt.

The other robber was described as Latino, 20 to 24 years old, 5 feet 8, 160 pounds. He was wearing beige pants, a light-colored polo shirt buttoned up to his neck, a long dark sports coat and a ski mask.