Police: Customer kills man robbing Chicago store

An armed bystander who fatally shot an accused would-be robber at a Chicago store on Halloween night probably won’t be charged, even though the victim’s gun might have been fake, police told the Chicago Tribune.

Reginald Gildersleeve, 55, died at the scene of multiple gunshot wounds, police said. The shooter had a concealed gun permit and was legally carrying the weapon when the shooting took place, the Tribune

The Tribune

Gildersleeve, wearing a mask, walked into the store, displayed a handgun and announced a robbery to an employee, police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi told the Associated Press. The gunman forced another employee to the back of the store before the bystander, who police have not named, fired the fatal shots.

Guglielmi said Gildersleeve had a lengthy arrest record and was free on bond when the shooting took place.

Igbinosa Oronsaye, whose mother was married to Gildersleeve, told the Tribune

“Some people don’t actually know how to use guns,” he said. “They go to firing ranges, but it’s not the same as a bullet going into someone’s body, it’s not the same as a bullet going into flesh. … You just took a brother, you just took a father from a lot of people. Somebody’s got to answer for that.”

Guglielmi told AP the police department takes no position on whether legally armed bystanders should take action in such situations.

“You have situations like this, and you have situations that end tragically,” Guglielmi said.