Phoenix woman shoots at shoplifters, strikes store employee instead: Police

PHOENIX (KNXV) -- A woman has been arrested after allegedly shooting a Phoenix Ace Hardware employee while attempting to stop two robbery suspects around 9:15 A.M. Saturday, Jan. 30, at the Ace Hardware near 32nd Street and Indian School Road.

Police say 45-year-old Nya Reyes was walking her dog in the area when she saw two people running from the store holding items, followed by employees who were yelling at the two people telling them to stop.

One of the two alleged shoplifters got into a blue sedan in front of Reyes and began to drive away. The second person followed the vehicle and got in as it was driving away.

Reyes told police that she fired at least two “stop shots” toward the vehicle in an attempt to disable the vehicle but not hurt anyone. The vehicle drove away and it was discovered that one of the Ace Hardware employees was shot in his knee by Reyes.

Police say Reyes disabled the weapon and cooperated when they arrived. The employee was hospitalized and treated for his injury. Reyes was arrested and faces charges for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and discharging a weapon within city limits.