Robber Killed By Customer In Prospect: PD

PROSPECT, CT — A man who was shot and killed during a robbery attempt by a gun-wielding customer was once involved in a conspiracy to murder NBA star Ray Allen's stepfather.

Torrance Battle, 44, of Waterbury held up Rt. 69 Auto Sales in Prospect Nov. 30 along with another masked man, State Police said. The two robbers then began to assault several employees including the store owner.

A customer drew his legally-registered firearm and fired at the robbers who then ran from the store. Battle was located nearby after being hit by gun fire and was pronounced dead at the scene. The second robber wasn't located.

The store owner and employee were transported to the hospital for non-life threatening injuries.

Battle was arrested in 2005 and later sentenced to 15 years in prison suspended after 10 years for the conspiracy to murder Allen's stepfather Derek Hopson.

Battle conspired with Ernest Garlington to kill Hopson, according to the Hartford Courant. Garlington had married Hopson's ex-wife. Hopson was beaten in 2002 and was shot at a year later, but the assailant missed.

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