News

Actions

HCSO: Business owner shoots robbery suspect

Posted at 6:09 AM, May 11, 2016
and last updated 2016-05-11 06:23:07-04

A business owner shot and killed a man who attempted to rob a Beverage Castle in Riverview Tuesday, authorities said.

About noon Tuesday, a man wearing a bandana over his face and armed with a 9mm handgun walked into ACE Beverage Castle, 9401 South U.S. 301 in Riverview, the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office said.  The bandit attempted to rob a customer, but got nothing.

The gunman then attempted to rob the owners, an unidentified father and son, who were sitting in an office. One of the owners, who is licensed to carry a firearm, pulled his weapon and fired. The suspect was hit multiple times.

He was taken by ambulance to Tampa General Hospital, where he died of his injuries.

The man who was shot has been identified as Joel Alberto Torres of Brandon.

Sheriff's homicide detectives will continue to examine evidence and complete interviews, Hillsborough County sheriff's spokesman Larry McKinnon said in a news release. Once their work is completed, the investigation will be turned over to the Hillsborough County State Attorney's Office for review.