Police Search for Gunmen Who Exchanged Gunfire With Business Owner

Two armed robbery suspects in their 20s, one of whom wounded the owner of a Pomona gas station during an exchange of gunfire, were at large today.

The suspects entered the Arco gas station at 1650 Gillette Road at 4:23 p.m. Monday and posed as customers, said Pomona police Sgt. M. Perez.

One of them, armed with an unknown-type gun, jumped over the counter and forced the clerk to hand over cash from the register, he said.

"The owner of the store, who was upstairs, armed himself and confronted the suspects," Perez said.

The 51-year-old owner and the armed suspect exchanged gunfire, during which the station owner suffered non-life-threatening wounds, Perez said.

The suspects fled on foot, heading eastbound on Gillette. It was unknown if either was struck, Perez said.

The business owner was airlifted to a hospital, Perez said.

Anyone with information about the shooting was urged to call the Pomona police Detective Bureau at (909) 620-2095.