PHILIPSBURG–A man was shot dead inside the Most Requested Flex DVD store on Front Street around 4:00pm Thursday.
The victim, Etienne Leblanc of French Quarter, could be seen through the open door of the store, slumped over what appeared to be a fallen-over pile of boxes of some kind, next to a chair that had fallen on the floor. He appeared to be in his 20s.
Police, detectives and forensics officers were at scene, and a large part of Front Street was closed off as a crime scene. However, the shop’s shutters could not be closed due to a wide-spread electricity failure, allowing members of the public a glimpse of the goings-on inside.
The owner of the store was seen accompanying police to a waiting car. It is believed he went to give a statement as a witness.
Bystanders stated that two men had entered the store and attempted to rob the owner, who is disabled. It was said that the owner’s son arrived at that point and challenged the robbers, after which a fight started. In the process, a gun went off, fatally wounding one of the alleged robbers. The second alleged robber was seen to run away from the store.
The police were still busy with the investigation up to press time. “The investigation has just begun and it is still unclear as to exactly what took place, why, and who is responsible for this shooting,” police spokesman Inspector Ricardo Henson stated in a press release late last night.
