- A 30-year-old man was arrested this week and has been charged with murder in connection with a robbery last May that ended with police fatally shooting his alleged accomplice, officials said today.
The robbery and gunfight began about 1:30 a.m. on May 11, 2011, when two officers saw two men wearing hoodies enter a JJ Peppers Food Store at 3101 S. Union Ave. and one of the suspects jumped over the counter, FOP spokesman Pat Camden said at the time.
The two officers quickly entered the store and one of the suspects opened fire, Camden said. One officer returned fire, killing the suspect, he said. The other suspect ran to the back of the store, prompting a nearly five-hour standoff that ended when police found he had escaped out a rear door.
Police today said their investigation later determined the second suspect was Mario Jones, 30, of the 10000 block of South Normal Avenue, and they were able to obtain an arrest warrant.
Mario finally surfaced on the south side where he was arrested and charged. His record is appropriately lengthy and varied where this isn't much of a surprise. A good and thorough job by all involved.