Columbus police: 50 shots fired in gunfight between robbers, pawn shop employee

More than 50 shots were fired between armed robbery suspects and an employee Wednesday morning at the Village Pawn Shop on Fort Benning Road, Columbus Police Maj. Gil Slouchick said.

The three arrested after the incident were 23-year-old Jamal Head, 20-year-old Marquis Johnson and 21-year-old Quantavius Pigler. They were charged with one count of armed robbery, two counts of aggravated assault and one count of possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime.

Authorities were called to the Village Pawn Shop at 937 Fort Benning Road around 11 a.m. Wednesday to investigate an armed robbery.

Police said two men entered the business armed with a handgun and rifle. They robbed the store and headed out the door with cash.

An employee withdrew a gun and began shooting at the suspects as they were leaving, according to the release. A gunfight between the employee and suspects followed. More than 50 shots were fired, but no one was harmed.

The suspects left the area in a black Toyota Rav4 that was waiting in the parking lot. It was driven by a third man.

An officer who wasn’t dressed in uniform stopped the men in the 200 block of 23rd Avenue. That’s when the suspects allegedly entered a residence where they were taken into custody after a standoff.

Head faces additional charges for three other business armed robberies that occurred in June, according to police.

This story was originally published July 13, 2017 at 2:18 PM with the headline "Columbus police: 50 shots fired in gunfight between robbers, pawn shop employee."