Customer who shot and killed would-be robber 'unlikely' to face charges

Reginald Gildersleeve, 55, had told people he was trying to turn his life around

Reginald Gildersleeve was married and had tried to turn his life around (Facebook)

An armed bystander who shot and killed a man accused of trying to rob a store on Halloween is not likely to face charges, police have said.

Reginald Gildersleeve, 55, was shot and killed after he allegedly entered a Chicago store, took out what appeared to be a weapon and tried to proceed with a robbery.

Police said Mr Gildersleeve, who had a lengthy criminal record that included robbery, was shot and killed by a member of the public, who had licence to carry a concealed weapon.

"A customer in the store drew his own weapon and fired at the suspect,” Chicago Police Department spokeswoman Ana Pacheco told The Independent.

“There were other customers in the business at the time. The offender was fatally wounded."

She added: “Chicago police is wrapping up its investigation. Charges do not appear likely.”

The Chicago Tribune, citing several law enforcement sources, claimed Mr Gildersleeve's gun was actually either a toy or paintball gun.

Igbinosa Oronsaye, whose mother was married to Mr Gildersleeve, said he was not convinced the shooter had acted properly.

“Some people don't actually know how to use guns,” he said.

“They go to firing ranges, but it's not the same as a bullet going into someone's body, it's not the same as a bullet going into flesh. You just took a brother, you just took a father from a lot of people. Somebody’s got to answer for that.”

A person identifying himself as a relative of the customer who killed Mr Gildersleeve said the family was declining comment, the Tribune said. The store was not open for business over the weekend.

Last month, a Michigan woman with a concealed carry license shot at shoplifters fleeing a Detroit-area Home Depot store, flattening a tyre of their vehicle.

No one was hurt, and the suspected shoplifters were arrested several days later. The woman faces up to 90 days in jail after pleading no contest to a charge of reckless discharge of a firearm.

Two other shootings in which citizens fired at lawbreakers or potential lawbreakers also happened in September in Michigan.