Benevolent One
Team Owner
Owner aims to protect his store
Akron shopkeeper grabs 12-gauge shotgun and shoots suspect during early morning break-in
By Phil Trexler
Akron Beacon Journal staff writer
The evidence was down the aisle, right next to the potato chips and cookies. Clumps of blood and human tissue on the shelf, the shotgun blast holes through the 7UP cooler.
Store owner William Goodwin was sleepy-eyed and unable to see without his contact lenses when two intruders broke into his Goodyear Heights corner store in the dark early Friday. But the 27-year-old shopkeeper's aim was good enough to blast the left arm of one intruder. Two more shots took out a glass soda pop cooler and a back room filing cabinet.
Goodwin joins a growing number of small-business owners who have used a firearm to thwart an attempted burglary. In a matter of seconds, it was over.
''I didn't have much time to think,'' Goodwin said. ''It just happened very fast. Right now, stuff happens. People get caught, some people do wrong things and they end up on the wrong side of a gun.''
Johnny Ray Rollyson, 19, who was free on bond awaiting trial for a March burglary, suffered a severe gunshot wound at the Pioneer Market, near the corner of Goodyear Boulevard and Pioneer Street.
Police believe that Rollyson and an accomplice broke open a rear door to the store, and once inside, were confronted by Goodwin and his Winchester short-barrel 12-gauge shotgun. Goodwin, who has owned the store for about a year, said he closed the shop about midnight. He was asleep inside about 3 a.m. when he heard the front door rattle. Moments later, the sounds of a break-in could be heard from the rear.
As the intruders walked toward the potato-chip aisle, Goodwin fired the first of three shots. The burglars fled, and Goodwin went outside.
''Some guy was pretty close to me and he was moving at me at a pretty good rate and I just fired at him,'' Goodwin said. ''I ended up firing three times. With the adrenaline, I perceived just firing once or twice, but it ended up being three times.''
A short time later, workers at Akron General Medical Center contacted police with news that they were treating Rollyson for a gunshot wound. Police Lt. Rick Edwards said the injury could threaten his arm.
Rollyson is charged by police with aggravated burglary. He remained hospitalized Friday pending a transfer to the Summit County Jail. His attorney, Tony Dalayanis, did not return a cell phone message for comment.
The second suspect has not been apprehended.
Friday's shooting represents at least the fourth time a suspected burglar has been shot by an area store worker or owner.
In October, a man who tried to rob a Raymond Street convenience store in Akron was shot and killed by the owner.
Last July, a Barberton drive-through store owner shot and killed a robber. The robber's accomplice survived and was convicted of involuntary manslaughter and robbery and is serving a 12-year prison sentence.
Earlier last year, Summit County prosecutors ruled that a West Akron pizza shop owner acted in self-defense when he shot and killed an armed robber.
Goodwin and his father, Steve Goodwin, were in the store Friday afternoon cleaning up the broken glass and blood left from the aborted burglary.
A ''closed'' sign was on the front door while they wiped blood from the shelves. Still, Goodwin allowed some familiar faces inside to shop for sodas or cigarettes.
Goodwin said his concealed carry permit has lapsed. Regardless, Ohio law does not require a permit when a citizen is protecting his home or business. Goodwin did, however, campaign for the law and has taught others to use firearms.
With a rash of burglaries and car break-ins in the area, he said, a weapon is necessary. Friday morning was the first time he fired a weapon at someone else. He said he feared for his safety when he shot the intruder.
''I can't really say too much, it happens so fast,'' he said.
Akron shopkeeper grabs 12-gauge shotgun and shoots suspect during early morning break-in
By Phil Trexler
Akron Beacon Journal staff writer
The evidence was down the aisle, right next to the potato chips and cookies. Clumps of blood and human tissue on the shelf, the shotgun blast holes through the 7UP cooler.
Store owner William Goodwin was sleepy-eyed and unable to see without his contact lenses when two intruders broke into his Goodyear Heights corner store in the dark early Friday. But the 27-year-old shopkeeper's aim was good enough to blast the left arm of one intruder. Two more shots took out a glass soda pop cooler and a back room filing cabinet.
Goodwin joins a growing number of small-business owners who have used a firearm to thwart an attempted burglary. In a matter of seconds, it was over.
''I didn't have much time to think,'' Goodwin said. ''It just happened very fast. Right now, stuff happens. People get caught, some people do wrong things and they end up on the wrong side of a gun.''
Johnny Ray Rollyson, 19, who was free on bond awaiting trial for a March burglary, suffered a severe gunshot wound at the Pioneer Market, near the corner of Goodyear Boulevard and Pioneer Street.
Police believe that Rollyson and an accomplice broke open a rear door to the store, and once inside, were confronted by Goodwin and his Winchester short-barrel 12-gauge shotgun. Goodwin, who has owned the store for about a year, said he closed the shop about midnight. He was asleep inside about 3 a.m. when he heard the front door rattle. Moments later, the sounds of a break-in could be heard from the rear.
As the intruders walked toward the potato-chip aisle, Goodwin fired the first of three shots. The burglars fled, and Goodwin went outside.
''Some guy was pretty close to me and he was moving at me at a pretty good rate and I just fired at him,'' Goodwin said. ''I ended up firing three times. With the adrenaline, I perceived just firing once or twice, but it ended up being three times.''
A short time later, workers at Akron General Medical Center contacted police with news that they were treating Rollyson for a gunshot wound. Police Lt. Rick Edwards said the injury could threaten his arm.
Rollyson is charged by police with aggravated burglary. He remained hospitalized Friday pending a transfer to the Summit County Jail. His attorney, Tony Dalayanis, did not return a cell phone message for comment.
The second suspect has not been apprehended.
Friday's shooting represents at least the fourth time a suspected burglar has been shot by an area store worker or owner.
In October, a man who tried to rob a Raymond Street convenience store in Akron was shot and killed by the owner.
Last July, a Barberton drive-through store owner shot and killed a robber. The robber's accomplice survived and was convicted of involuntary manslaughter and robbery and is serving a 12-year prison sentence.
Earlier last year, Summit County prosecutors ruled that a West Akron pizza shop owner acted in self-defense when he shot and killed an armed robber.
Goodwin and his father, Steve Goodwin, were in the store Friday afternoon cleaning up the broken glass and blood left from the aborted burglary.
A ''closed'' sign was on the front door while they wiped blood from the shelves. Still, Goodwin allowed some familiar faces inside to shop for sodas or cigarettes.
Goodwin said his concealed carry permit has lapsed. Regardless, Ohio law does not require a permit when a citizen is protecting his home or business. Goodwin did, however, campaign for the law and has taught others to use firearms.
With a rash of burglaries and car break-ins in the area, he said, a weapon is necessary. Friday morning was the first time he fired a weapon at someone else. He said he feared for his safety when he shot the intruder.
''I can't really say too much, it happens so fast,'' he said.
