Ethiopian gas station owner in Florida shot, survives

Ethiopian News and Opinion Journal

Ethiopian gas station owner in Florida shot, survives

October 8th, 2008 |

By Anthony Anamelechi, Tallahassee.com

Updated 2:10 p.m.

Chief Ferman Richardson, Quincy Poice Department, said Wondwossen Gizaw, the manager of the Quincy BP gas station shot early this morning, is in stable condition.

Richardson said 45-year old Gizaw had surgery today at Tallahassee Memorial Hospital for his bullet wounds.

TMH has not given official word of Gizaw's status.

Gizaw who was known by neighborhood residents as "Wandu" was shot three times while trying to close his gas station this morning.

Richardson said QPD has leads to the three suspects involved in this robbery.

… updated 10:27 a.m.

A gas-station manager in Quincy was shot several times during a robbery early this morning.

The man was shot in the arm, leg and chest, said Ferman Richardson, chief of the Quincy Police Department. He was taken to Tallahassee Memorial Hospital, where he is stable.

It happened about 12:50 a.m. at the BP station, 502 W. Jefferson St. Three people wearing black clothes and red gloves came into the store. After the shooting, they left in a blue Cadillac.

Anyone with information is asked to call 627-7111.

… first update

The manager of a BP gas station in Quincy was shot several times this morning during a robbery, according to Quincy Police Department officials.

Three people came into the store wearing black clothes and red gloves. After the manager was shot, they left in a Cadillac.

A reporter is being sent to the scene. Check back with Tallahassee.com for more on this story.

TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Joseph Shankut looked distraught as he walked into his BP gas station, 504 W. Jefferson St., Tuesday afternoon.

Shankut owned the gas station with his brother Wondwossen Gizaw, who was shot three times early Tuesday when three men robbed him as he was closing the Quincy store.

"It's a shock," Shankut said.

Shankut said the gas station has been burglarized a couple of times, but nothing like this has ever happened.

"I'm glad he's OK," Shankut said.

The incident happened about 12:50 a.m. Three people wearing black clothes and red gloves came into the store. After the shooting, they left in a blue Cadillac.

The Gadsden County Sheriff's Office and the Quincy Police Department are investigating the robbery.

Quincy Police Chief Ferman Richardson, said the incident was a crime of opportunity.

He said officers responded to a robbery on Jefferson an hour before the gas station robbery was called in.

"The response time was only two minutes," Richardson said.

Richardson said Gizaw was able to call police following the shooting and he gave a description of what the suspects were wearing and the vehicle before he was taken to Tallahassee Memorial Hospital.

Travis Barkley, who owns the car wash adjacent to the gas station, said Gizaw, known to neighbors as "Wandu," was a good man.

"I don't know who would have done that," he said, "He's a good dude."

Anyone with information is asked to call the Crime Stoppers hot line at 574-TIPS or (888) 876-TIPS.