Armed robber flees after supermarket employees fire blank warning shot
An armed robbery took place outside a supermarket in Messel on Friday evening at 9:00 p.m. A man brandishing a pistol confronted three employees as they left the store. The suspect demanded money before fleeing empty-handed after one of the victims fired a warning shot.
The assailant, described as a male aged 40ā55, spoke with an Eastern European accent. Witnesses noted his short hair or bald head and a noticeable scar across the left side of his face. During the confrontation, he struck one employee in the head, who later received hospital treatment.
The victim responded by firing a warning shot from a blank-firing pistol, causing the attacker to run away without taking anything. Police later found shell casings at the scene, indicating the suspect's weapon was also a blank-firing gun.
Authorities are now examining whether this incident is connected to a shoplifting-related robbery in Darmstadt on January 26. The 3rd Police Precinct in Darmstadt-Arheilgen and Criminal Investigation Unit 10 have asked anyone with information to come forward.
It remains unclear if the employee who fired the warning shot could face legal consequences for carrying and using the blank-firing weapon.
The investigation is ongoing, with police exploring possible links to the earlier theft. The injured employee has since been treated and released. Authorities continue to search for the suspect based on the description provided.
