Bakersfield Police are looking into several leads that may be connected to Thursday night's jewelry store robbery and shooting in the southwest.
Police are looking into a possible getaway vehicle, a gray car they seized, plus a wounded possible suspect who's at Mercy Southwest Hospital.
They also revealed ski masks and clothing were found less than a mile away from Southwest Coins and Jewelry. The items match the description of what the robbers were wearing.
Police are also investigating whether the clerk has the right to fire a weapon because two of the three shots happened as the robbers were running away.
"We heard the sound of gunshots and as we came out. There was glass everywhere," said Amanda English, a witness.
There was glass everywhere because police say the clerk at the jewelry store fired shots through a window, as the three masked men robbed the strip mall store.
"It's very sad," said English.
Police say the men used a hammer to break into a glass jewelry case, then the clerk pulled out a gun and fought with one of the robbers. Authorities say the clerk fired one shot then two more as the robbers ran away.
Police say no one was hurt, but does the clerk have the right to shoot at fleeing suspects?
"Every case is going to be judged on its individual facts or circumstances," said Scott Spielman, Assistant District Attorney.
Spielman could not comment on this particular case, but says the law is clear. "If a person is assaulted by someone in their home, by someone who broke into their home, or if somebody breaks into their home and they fear they are going to be assaulted, then that person can use deadly force to repel that attack," he said.
Police say it appears the clerk was in the right, but they are still investigating the circumstances. Spielman said investigations like this are standard.
"The long and short of it always comes back to was deadly force justified? It depends whenever it's used. You're always going to have somebody to look back on it to try to figure out, was it reasonable under those circumstances?," said Spielman.
Southwest Coins and Jewelry was closed Friday and their broken window has been replaced. A sign on the door says they will open Saturday.
