A pharmacist who shot an armed robber who tried to hold up a Luling drug store was justified in using deadly force, according to St. Charles Parish Sheriff Greg Champagne.
Man killed during Luling drug store robbery ID’d by authorities
“All indications in this investigation, including the recovered store surveillance video, shows that the pharmacist and the store clerk’s lives were in imminent danger,” Champagne said in a statement released Tuesday afternoon (Jan. 22). “This incident is currently deemed a justified shooting.”
Authorities earlier identified the deceased man as Mark Fisher Jr., 36, who lived in or near Madisonville. Fisher is accused of trying to rob Thrift Village Drugs Inc., 737 Paul Maillard Road, Luling, Monday night.
The Sheriff’s Office also released more details about the holdup. Fisher walked into the store just after 6 p.m. wearing a mask and gloves, authorities said. He was armed with a pistol and ordered the unnamed pharmacist and a clerk to go behind the counter.
Fisher demanded drugs from the pair before pulling out zip ties to bind them, authorities said. He secured the ties around the clerk’s hands.
But the pharmacist managed to get hold of his own gun before Fisher could zip tie his hands, according to the Sheriff’s Office. Fisher and the pharmacist scuffled for a bit before Fisher ran for the front door.
Fisher made it outside but turned to charge the pharmacist when the latter tried to lock the door, authorities said. The pharmacist fired one shot that hit Fisher in his right leg, hitting the femoral artery.
Fisher hobbled for about 100 feet before collapsing behind the strip mall. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
