Redding business owner shoots would-be robber who fled the scene in a stolen pickup truck

July 23, 2021 Trevor Montgomery

REDDING, Calif., — Authorities say the break-in and attempted robbery of a Redding donut shop led to the business owner shooting one of two would-be robbers early this morning, Friday, July 23.

The suspects fled the scene after the shooting and the vehicle they used in the robbery attempt, which had been stolen in Redding the previous evening, was later found burning about half a mile from where the attempted robbery occurred.

Officials this morning said one of the two suspects was shot during the incident and blood evidence at the scene indicated the man “may be seriously injured and in need of medical care.”

LEADING THE SCNS HEADLINES:
Man who plummeted 50′ after jumping from bridge into Sacramento River rescued
Suspect’s name, more details released after fatal wildfire-related shooting of man in Siskiyou County
Fleeing scene of crash, woman’s car soars over freeway overpass & through double set of power lines
Shasta Lake drowning victim’s body found amidst “hidden dangers”, as water levels continue dropping
Body recovered after vehicle found upside down in Sacramento River in Redding

City of Redding police officers were dispatched to Lucky Donuts, at 6392 Westside Road, shortly before 3 a.m. after the owner, 59-year-old, Robert Keo, of Anderson, called 911 and reported having just shot a man had just attempted to rob him while he was working inside his business, Redding Police Sergeant Rob Garnero reported this morning.

Responding officers discovered the business’s heavily damaged rear door had been torn from its hinges and found fresh blood at the scene, believed to have been from the suspect the business owner reported having shot.

Officials say the owner of Redding’s Lucky Donuts shot a would-be robber who used a stolen pickup truck to break into the Anderson man’s business. Fearing for his life, the owner shot the man who entered the store and officials believe he may be seriously injured and in need of urgent medical care. Redding PD photos

Keo told officers he was inside his business preparing donuts “when a truck rammed into the industrial backdoor, tearing it away from the hinges and creating an opening,” Garnero explained; saying that moments later a man rushed into the business through the damaged door.

Keo, who was armed with a handgun, “warned the man to leave his business … but the suspect did not heed the warning and continued to enter the business,” Garneo continued; adding that fearing for his life and believing the suspect “would attempt to rob and kill him”, Keo fired a single shot at the man in self-defense.

“The shot struck the suspect, who then retreated through the back door,” and fled the scene in a pickup truck being driven by another suspect that Keo did not see, the Sergeant explained.

While officers were working at the donut shop and collecting evidence related to the attempted robbery and shooting, officials were notified regarding a vehicle fire on Clear Creek Rd., west of State Route 273, about half a mile from Lucky Donuts.

Redding firefighters responded to the vehicle fire and extinguished the flames, finding a burned out and heavily damaged, maroon 2000 Ford F-250.

Officers quickly determined the Ford had been stolen earlier that evening from the Alternative Automotive business on Wall Street in Redding, and Keo later positively identified the vehicle as the one used during the attempted robbery.

“It appeared the suspects intentionally set the truck on fire in an effort to destroy evidence,” said Garneo.

Keo described the suspect he shot as a white male adult in his twenties to thirties, but could not provide any further details, according to the Sergeant.

SEE OTHER RECENT SCNS HEADLINE NEWS:
Wanted for robberies in two states, felon nabbed with gun & drugs during Anderson stop
Construction worker seriously injured after pinned under vehicle that crashed into utility trench
Man arrested after unprovoked attack of elderly man outside Redding bar
Anderson man arrested after arranging to mee t with m inor for sex
Wanted felon arrested in stolen vehicle at Anderson Walmart

Although officers searched the area of both crime scenes and contacted local hospitals, they have not yet identified the suspects.

Police believe that the suspect who was shot may be seriously injured and in need of medical care and officials are continuing to search for him and his accomplice.

Anyone with information regarding the identity of both or either suspects is encouraged to contact the Redding Police Department at (530) 225-4200. Callers can refer to incident file number 21R048172 and can remain anonymous.

native advertising

Contact the writer: [email protected]

Trevor Montgomery, 50, moved in 2017 to the Intermountain area of Shasta County from Riverside County and runs Riverside County News Source (RCNS) and Shasta County News Source (SCNS).

Additionally, he writes or has written for several other news organizations; including Riverside County-based newspapers Valley News, Valley Chronicle, Anza Valley Outlook, and Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle; the Bonsall/Fallbrook Village News in San Diego County; and Mountain Echo in Shasta County. He is also a regular contributor to Thin Blue Line TV and Law Enforcement News Network and has had his stories featured on news stations throughout the Southern California and North State regions.

Trevor spent 10 years in the U.S. Army as an Orthopedic Specialist before joining the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department in 1998. He was medically retired after losing his leg, breaking his back, and suffering both spinal cord and brain injuries in an off-duty accident. (Click here to see segment of Discovery Channel documentary of Trevor’s accident.)

During his time with the sheriff’s department, Trevor worked at several different stations; including Robert Presley Detention Center, Southwest Station in Temecula, Hemet/Valle Vista Station, Ben Clark Public Safety Training Center, and Lake Elsinore Station; along with other locations.

Trevor’s assignments included Corrections, Patrol, DUI Enforcement, Boat and Personal Water-Craft based Lake Patrol, Off-Road Vehicle Enforcement, Problem Oriented Policing Team, and Personnel/Background Investigations. He finished his career while working as a Sex Crimes and Child Abuse Investigator and was a court-designated expert in child abuse and child sex-related crimes.

Trevor has been married for more than 30 years and was a foster parent to more than 60 children over 13 years. He is now an adoptive parent and his “fluid family” includes 13 children and 18 grandchildren.