LONDON, KENTUCKY – A man who entered a local store claiming to have a weapon and demanding money was shot dead by an employee when a co-worker was assaulted. The Laurel County Sheriff’s Office says that the incident unfolded early on December 19th.
An armed robbery was reported at the Bait Bucket, located south of London on Highway 312, around 7 a.m. Saturday. Responding deputies were told by employees that a man entered the store demanding money and telling employees that he had a weapon. At some point the man began assaulting one of the employees. At that point, another employee fired a gun at Van, fatally wounding him.
A third employee was treated at the scene for injuries sustained when she was struck in the side by a stray bullet. She was transported to University of Kentucky Medical Center in Lexington for additional follow-up treatment.
The suspect, identified as Jacob S. Vann, 32, of Keavy, was pronounced dead by the Laurel County Coroner’s Office. The LCSO was assisted on scene by the West Knox Volunteer Fire Department and the Kentucky State Police.
Robberies and attempted robberies at stores are common, whether they are located in highly populated cities or in rural areas such as this. While not always possible, it is always advisable to have more than one employee on duty, preferably armed and trained in the defensive use of handguns. If not for an armed employee, this assailant could have seriously injured or killed the employees of this community store…instead, it was he who lost his life.
