Man shot in liquor store robbery arrested, police say

— A Little Rock man who was shot by a liquor store owner during an armed robbery of the business was arrested Wednesday after being released from the hospital, police said.

Christopher D. Williams, 19, is scheduled to make an initial court appearance today on charges of aggravated robbery and theft of property.

Police located Williams soon after the Friday morning robbery, but he was first taken to UAMS to be treated for a gunshot wound to the back of his shoulder. He was released from the hospital Wednesday and immediately booked into the Pulaski County Detention Facility, said Little Rock Police Department Lt. Terry Hastings.

The robbery occurred about 8:15 a.m. when a man entered Bopp Liquor, 1021 E. 9th St., pointed a gun at the owner and demanded money, according to a police report written by Detective Charles G. Eason.

The owner reportedly handed over cash from the register but then grabbed his handgun as the robber was leaving. The robber turned back once before going, at which point the owner fired one time in his direction, according to the report. The owner was unsure whether the shot actually hit the man.

Williams was stopped moments later when an officer responding to the robbery spotted a maroon Lincoln matching one the robber was reported to have left the scene in. He was a passenger in the vehicle, which was stopped in a gas station parking lot near 9th Street and Interstate 30.

Williams - who told police his name was DeShawn Hughes - had an apparent gunshot wound and acknowledged being shot, according to the report. He provided the same false name to the hospital, but his true identity was revealed when investigators took fingerprints and ran them through a national database, police said.

Authorities say Williams has since denied involvement in the robbery.

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