DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Daytona Beach police shot a man after he ran into a Walgreens pharmacy with a gun and demanded narcotics early Tuesday afternoon, police said.
According to police, 41-year-old Louis Curler ran into the Walgreens at the intersection of International Speedway Boulevard and Ridgewood Avenue, jumped over the pharmacy counter, pointed a rifle at three employees inside and demanded narcotics.
Lisa Quinones works at the Walgreens and was inside when Curler came in. She said she moved into action to try to get the roughly 10 people inside the store outside.
"All I could do is pray, 'Jesus, have him put the gun down,'" she said.
Police responded to the Walgreens and confronted Curler, who police said appeared to be injecting himself with something.
Police said they asked the man to show his hands.
According to police, Curler then ran toward the employees still in the store, rifle in hand, and an officer opened fire, hitting Curler once in the back.
Surveillance video shows the harrowing moments where police confornted Curler.
"With God's grace and mercy today, not one employee was injured and not one innocent patron was injured," said Jakari Young, deputy chief.
Curler was taken to a nearby hospital. He has no prior arrests in Volusia County.
Investigators do not believe he ever fired his gun at officers.
Curler will face multiple charges including robbery and kidnapping. He is expected to face a judge Wednesday morning.
Only one officer fired his weapon. He fired multiple shots. Only one hit the suspect, suspect survived per police
— Mike Springer WFTV (@mspringerwftv) April 23, 2019
Police say there were about 10 people in the store at the time between customers and employees. 3 people where in the pharmacy when it was robbed
— Mike Springer WFTV (@mspringerwftv) April 23, 2019
This is a photo of the gun police say the suspect had pic.twitter.com/9NkG05sjpj
— Mike Springer WFTV (@mspringerwftv) April 23, 2019
Employee inside the store says she heard coworkers shout gun and she worked to get people out of the store and to safety pic.twitter.com/cB69mld7lW
— Mike Springer WFTV (@mspringerwftv) April 23, 2019
.@DBCops1 say suspect robbed Walgreens on ISB and pulled a weapon on officers; officers fired. Suspect expected to survive. No officers, employees or civilians hurt
— Mike Springer WFTV (@mspringerwftv) April 23, 2019
Very active scene still pic.twitter.com/VxoZE9jumd
— Mike Springer WFTV (@mspringerwftv) April 23, 2019
A witness says he heard one shot and commands prior by police for him to drop his weapon. Witness says it looked like a long gun pic.twitter.com/ZL0yyhckfA
— Mike Springer WFTV (@mspringerwftv) April 23, 2019
Police say suspect went into the pharmacy, pointed gun at employees and demanded drugs. Police say he appeared to be injecting something into himself, Pd asked him to show his hands, suspect still holding rifle, police fire and hit him in lower back
— Mike Springer WFTV (@mspringerwftv) April 23, 2019
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