A man is facing aggravated assault and kidnapping charges after opening fire at a gas station and leading police on a pursuit in Chandler Monday night.
According to police, officers responded to the Valero gas station at Gilbert and Riggs roads around 7:30 p.m. after reports of a shooting.
Police said 29-year-old Robert Lee Antone, Jr. was attempting to buy beer, but the clerk refused, believing Antone was already intoxicated as he had just vomited inside the store.
Antone reportedly went outside to his car and retrieved a gun, then opened fire at the store, shooting it six times.
According to police documents, the clerk was struck multiple times in the leg. She was transported to a nearby hospital where she remains in the ICU.
Antone threatened his girlfriend with a gun and forced her to flee the scene. The woman's nephew, who was in the backseat of the car, was also held at gunpoint as Antone instructed them to drive away.
As responding officers began pursuing the vehicle near Arizona Avenue and Pecos Road, Antone fired at least two more rounds at police. A woman driving in the area was struck through her car. She is also being treated in the ICU.
Officers followed Antone onto reservation land where his car was disabled with stop sticks.
Police initially took Antone, his girlfriend, and her nephew into custody as they investigated the incident. Police on Tuesday said Antone was the only person suspected in the shooting and pursuit.
During interviews with police, Antone reportedly admitted to being angry with the clerk and firing at the store "to scare her." He also admitted to threatening his girlfriend with a gun and demanding she flee from officers.
He is facing aggravated assault, kidnapping, and prohibited possession of a weapon charges.
