Robbery Suspect Killed In Shootout With Store Clerk: East Hartford PD

EAST HARTFORD, CT — A shootout betwen an East Hartford store clerk and a robbery suspect Thursday night has resulted in the death of the 26-year-old suspect and an injury to the clerk, police said.

According to the East Hartford Police Department Friday morning, two suspects wearing black ski masks entered a business at 1285 Main St., a Humble & Paid Co. clothing store, in an attempt to rob the store just after 10:30 p.m.

Police said a brief struggle took place between a clerk working there and one of the suspects pulled out a gun.

That's when the clerk was shot in the back by the suspect, police said.

But the clerk, police said, also had two, legally registered firearms and was able to return fire, hitting one of the suspects "several times."

According to the EHPD, officers on the scene tried to give life-saving measures to the shot suspect until the East Hartford Fire Department arrived.

At 2:40 p.m., police identified the suspect killed as being Jashar Haslam, 26, from Hartford.

The individual was then taken to a nearby hospital via ambulance, where he was pronounced dead, police said.

Police added the store clerk was treated at the scene for a gunshot wound to the lower back and was taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

Amid the initial struggle, the second suspect fled the scene and has not been located, according to police.

Police said the investigation is ongoing.