Toy-gun-wielding robber shot by bakery owner with real gun

CALUMET CITY, Ill. (KABC) -- A bakery owner in Calumet City, Illinois, shot and wounded a robbery suspect who was carrying a toy gun, police said.

The baker, who did not want to be identified, is still shaken up after two suspects allegedly attempted to rob him while he was making a cake. He said he got a bad feeling when the suspects asked him to move to the back of the bakery.

"They had the money already, why would they ask us to go to the back? It didn't seem or feel right," he said.

The baker then grabbed his own gun and opened fired, hitting one of the suspects seven times. However, the weapon the baker believed the suspects had was actually a very realistic-looking toy, according to police.

The owner said he was just defending himself.

"Gotta protect ourselves. I don't think I broke the law, just defended myself and my employee's life," he said. "I don't feel good about it. Just the way it happened."

Calumet City Police Chief Edward Gilmore said the bakery owner did everything right; he has a FOID card, the gun is legal and so were his actions.

"Bad guys should be aware: Owners have the right to carry on their own property and defend themselves," Gilmore said. "When you feel your life is threatened and you've done everything right, you do have the right to protect yourself and that's what the business owner did."

Police said the owner's actions were in the right even though the suspects' weapon was a toy, because it was still used under the pretense of a crime.

The injured suspect was hospitalized but expected to survive. The other suspect remains at large, police said.