Friday, October 01, 1999
Robber beats store owner with gun
BY JANICE MORSE
The Cincinnati Enquirer
HAMILTON — A suspect in a jewelry-store heist “acted like a woman,” a police report says, but became anything but ladylike in a struggle with the shopkeeper.
“He was all man when we started fighting,” Orven Hounchell Jr., owner of Hamilton Jewelry and Stuff, 2400 Pleasant Ave., said Thursday, a day after his store was robbed.
Police were looking for a 6-foot-4, 250-pound black man who spoke in a high-pitched voice and was wearing a bandanna on his head and women's flip-flop sandals on his feet.
The robber, whoMr. Hounchell said stuck a gun in his ribs and demanded money, allegedly fled with $60,000 to $70,000 worth of jewelry and other items after beating Mr. Hounchell with his own gun.
“I feel very, very fortunate he didn't shoot me once he got my gun,” Mr. Hounchell said Thursday, in between waiting on customers at his store.
The incident marks the second time in recent weeks in which a Greater Cincinnati business owner used a gun as protection.
On Sept. 8, Eugene Clifford, owner of Clifford's Carry Out in Avondale, shot at teens who allegedly tried to rob his store at gunpoint. One of the teens died. Mr. Hounchell, 61, said some people are critical of merchants arming themselves, but he believes it's their right — one that he intends to continue exercising.
Mr. Hounchell weighs about 200 pounds and stands about 5-foot-10, but said his attacker was much bigger and stronger.
Mr. Hounchell said he was fighting for his life during a fierce struggle that lasted 10 or 15 minutes.
It started after the man had asked to look at some speakers for sale in a side area.
“He stuck a gun in my side, and he was trying to shove me into a bathroom,” Mr. Hounchell said.
The attacker told Mr. Hounchell he wanted all of his money, so Mr. Hounchell reached for his back pants pocket as if to produce a wallet.
“My dad said, "I'll give you what's in my pocket,' and he pulled out his gun,” said Mr. Hounchell's daughter, Alma, 30.
The attacker overpowered the shopkeeper and took his .25-caliber handgun, along with the jewelry and a video camera, a police report says. Paramedics treated Mr. Hounchell for cuts on his head; he said he also suffered bruises and injuries to his back.
The store had no insurance to cover the loss of the jewelry, Ms. Hounchell said.
Anyone with information is asked to call Lt. Steve Isgro, Hamilton police investigations commander, at 868-5811, ext. 2002.
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