The owner of an Arkansas pawnshop died and another man was wounded after an attempted robbery turned into a shootout Monday evening, authorities said.
Brandon McHan, the owner of Wise Buck Pawn Shop in Pine Bluff, was hit while he exchanged gunfire with at least one of two assailants who entered the store at 2408 S. Camden Road after 5:30 p.m., the Pine Bluff Police Department said in a statement.
Police said previously that they believe the pair was trying to rob the business. After an initial round of shooting, the two would-be robbers briefly retreated and McHan’s friend, who was also in the store, rendered aid to him, said Officer Richard Wegner, spokesman for Pine Bluff police.
When the assailants returned less than two minutes later, McHan’s friend, who regularly sat with him in the store, used McHan's gun to exchange more gunfire with them, authorities said. He was hit in the chin, abdomen and hand.
Both shooting victims were taken to Jefferson Regional Medical Center. McHan died there and the other man was later moved to a Little Rock hospital. Wegner said the man was taken into surgery, but there was no update on his condition as of Tuesday morning.
No suspects were named and no arrests had been made, Wegner said.
Authorities released photos from the business' surveillance system and asked anyone who recognized the two people pictured to contact police.
"We are hoping that despite the rain blurring some of the images someone will recognize one or both of these suspects," the statement said.