by Hillary LaClair, Senior Editor
April 10, 2009
An owner of a jewelry store who was shot in a robbery on Tuesday is suspected of operating and illegal sports betting operation at his story, according to Greensboro police. Kim San, 61, was wheeled out of Moses Cone Hospital after having been shot at the CS Jewelers on Randleman Road in Greensboro, Massachusetts. San is the victim of a shooting as well as the U.S.’s obsession with banning all forms of sports betting.
Officials believe an illegal sports betting ring was running out of the jewelry store, but is not thought to be related to the shooting. According to the police, other local businesses had been robbed at gunpoint in recent months, and it is believed that San’s case may be related.
“I saw them wheeling him out on the bed. He was sitting up and he had something wrapped around his head,” said Carla Henrietta O’Niel who owns a store nearby. “It’s just shocking that this has happened. I’m kind of at a loss for words.”
Police said that they responded to 2804-R Randleman Road and found Kim San suffering from a non-threatening gunshot wound. San is the husband of the store’s owner. Allegedly, money from the store and another undisclosed location was seized as part of a narcotics decetives’ investigation.
Officials believe that Kim would generate a random lottery number and customers would buy tickets to try to match that number and receive a cash prize, according to Capt. Mike Oates, head of Vice Narcotics Division of the Greensboro Police Department. Additionally, Kim would allow sports bets at the business.
Police seized a great deal of cash and receipts from the jewelry store and the other location. The investigation had been going on for months and police say that there are other suspects, although no one as formally been charged.
Sun was shot just before 1PM on Wednesday when two masked men entered the store and attempted to rob him. A struggle ensued when Kim was shot and taken to Moses Cone Hospital with non-life threatening injuries. He has since been released.
Sun’s wife and daughter, listed as owners of the store, were present at the time of the shooting but were not injured. Anyone with information about the shooting or the gambling ring that took place at the store are urged to call local authorities. Callers will remain anonymous and are eligible for a cash reward.
Capt Janice Rogers said that police are working with the San family to conduct an inventory to determine what was taken in the robbery, if anything. She said that because the incident occurred in a busy shopping center, using a police dog to track the suspects would be difficult. Police do not have complete descriptions of the two suspects, but said that they were clad in dark colored clothing and wearing ski masks when they ran from the store in a western direction following the shooting.
The store did not have video cameras and investigators are reviewing evidence taken from the scene.
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