Columbus man shot after allegedly robbing Circle K waives hearing

The Circle K armed robbery suspect who police said was shot by a customer in late July while attempting to flee the crime scene waived his preliminary hearing early Monday in Columbus Recorder’s Court.

Gary Clifford Adams, 35, of Columbus pleaded not guilty to armed robbery and theft by shoplifting. Judge Michael Cielinski ordered him held in the Muscogee County Jail. He denied bond on the single count of armed robbery but granted a $500 bond on the other charge.

The case was bound over to Superior Court.

Columbus Police Lt. Warren Dunlap said Adams was one of two masked black men who entered the Circle K at 5155 Warm Springs Road on July 25 at 2:42 a.m. The men allegedly stole cigarettes and cash. They were reportedly running from the store when a customer, who was armed with a gun, arrived on the scene.

Police said the customer noticed that their faces were covered and assumed that they had robbed the store. He withdrew his weapon and ordered them to stop, authorities said.

The suspect then ran to the back of the business and one of the suspects allegedly pointed toward the customer as if he had a weapon. The customer then fired his weapon, striking Adams in the right thigh.

Dunlap said Adams ran a short distance but fell to the ground. The other suspect fled from the scene on foot, heading toward the Family Dollar nearby.

The unidentified suspect, who wore a red shirt during the incident, is still on the loose, authorities confirmed Wednesday. No further description of the suspect is available.

The customer has not been charged in connection with the incident, Dunlap said.

This story was originally published August 3, 2016 at 11:18 AM with the headline "Columbus man shot after allegedly robbing Circle K waives hearing."