ATLANTA — Police said one robber is dead and two others are on the run after an attempted hold-up at the West End Tattoo Shop ended in gunfire just after 6:30 p.m. Tuesday.
Three robbers tried to hit the tattoo shop, but the store owner had a gun of his own. Police said at least 15 shots were fired.
Just before Atlanta police arrived in the West End, Sylvania Watkins said she heard the distinctive staccato burst of gunfire.
"I said, ‘It was a drive-by.' That was my first thought, so I didn't have any idea it was a shootout in the tattoo parlor," said Watkins.
"It appears three suspects came into the West End Tattoo Parlor and attempted to rob the owner and at some point, the owner managed to retrieve his own weapon. It was at that point that the individuals exchanged gunfire," said Maj. Keith Meadows of the Atlanta Police Department.
Police said the owner shot and killed one suspect and wounded another. The shop owner wasn't hurt.
Officials said the suspects did not get away with any money.
"We saw a white car take off in one direction and a black car take off in another," said Watkins.
William Hollins owns a photography shop a couple of doors down from West End Tattoo.
"I just heard shots. It was thundering and I thought, ‘That's some weird thunder.' So I didn't know what was going on," said Hollins.
"The owner had a 9 mm handgun. It would appear at least 15 shots were fired between both weapons," said Meadows.
Police said they will question the owner, but it is unlikely he will face charges.
Names have not been released.