COLUMBUS, Ohio — The man who was fatally shot inside an AutoZone store near Polaris on Thursday was a customer who was trying to stop an armed robbery, according to the Columbus Division of Police.
Around 5:10 p.m., officers were called to the store located at 8338 Sancus Blvd., just south of Polaris Parkway. Police found the customer, 43-year-old Alejandro Fajardo-Torres, who was shot.
He was pronounced dead at 5:19 p.m. Police said Fajardo-Torres was a customer, acting as a Good Samaritan while trying to stop the robbery.
Police said an 18-year-old man who works at the store was suffering from an injury stemming from blunt-force trauma but is expected to be OK.
Police are looking to identify two suspects who are believed to be involved in the fatal shooting.
Two surveillance images were released by police Friday, and are asking for the public’s help in identifying the two suspects they believe are involved.
According to police, a preliminary investigation has linked the homicide to multiple recent armed robberies targeting local auto parts stores.
Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to call the Columbus Police Homicide Unit at 614-645-4730 or Central Ohio Crime Stoppers at 614-461-TIPS (8477).
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