Pharmacist Defends Himself, Mother, Against Armed Robbers

On January 8, 2013 around 6:30 pm in Madera, CA, Bryan Lee, a local pharmacy owner, and his mother were closing up their pharmacy for the day. Lee had left the back door unlocked for a customer making an after hours pickup, but shortly after that customer left, two men ran into the store with masks and started shooting. Lee and his mother dove behind the counter, but one bullet still struck his mother's leg. Lee grabbed his own gun and started shooting back at the robbers, hitting one in the face, torso, and leg. As soon as Lee started shooting back, both robbers ran, including the injured one, who made it one block before collapsing to be found by police. That suspect, 31 year old Aquilla Bailey, died at the hospital. Police have arrested the second suspect and he is being charged with, among other crimes, murder for the death of his accomplice.

Lee's mother has been treated and has returned to work. A motive is not clear since the robbers opened fire immediately upon entering the pharmacy without making any demands, but it is likely that their goal was to kill the employees first and then make off with the drugs inside.