Jeweler, 2 Employees Killed in Store Shooting

Jackson, Miss.--The Jewelers’ Security Alliance is offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of two suspects wanted in a triple homicide at a jewelry store and pawn shop in Jackson, Mississippi.

According to the JSA, the 81-year-old owner of Bill’s Pawn and Jewelry in Jackson and two employees, ages 77 and 60, were shot and killed in a robbery at the store Saturday. Police were called to the scene at about 8:50 p.m. when the victims did not return home after work.

Five high-end watches as well as jewelry and coins were stolen from the store. Surveillance equipment was taken too, while other equipment was damaged.

The two individuals wanted in the case, a male and a female, are described as being white and in their 20s. Police believe that the pair also might have committed a burglary at a jewelry store in Pascagoula, Mississippi on Dec. 13.

Police are warning retailers that they might be trying to sell jewelry at stores in the southern United States.

Anyone with information in the case is asked to call the Jackson police at 601-960-1234 or the JSA at 1-800-325-1883.

There was another robbery and shooting at a jewelry store on Saturday, this one in Oakland County, Michigan, northwest of Detroit, the JSA said.

In that case, two male suspects wearing ski masks entered the store at about 4 p.m., held the 51-year-old owner and his 20-year-old son at gunpoint and demanded all the money and jewelry in the safe.

After going through a small safe, one of the suspects fired a shot, which hit the floor and ricocheted, hitting the jewelry store owner in the back. One suspect also beat the store owner with this gun.

Despite his injuries, the owner followed the two suspects in his pickup truck and was shot at again.

When he found them, the owner rammed their car with his truck, the JSA said. The suspects then fled on foot.

One, a 48-year-old with a long criminal record who was on parole, was captured while the second man fled across a frozen lake. He broke into a home’s garage and stole a 2014 Jeep Cherokee with the keys in it.

A $1,000 reward is being offered for information leading to his capture via Crime Stoppers, 1-800-SPEAK-UP.