Customer shoots, kills armed robber

Police: 2nd suspect fled Prospect auto dealer, still at large

A customer shot and killed a masked gunman during an at- tempted armed robbery at a Prospect used-car dealer on Friday afternoon, state police said.

Another armed suspect ran off and is still at large, police said Saturday.

The robbery happened about 6:50 p.m. at Route 69 Auto Sales and Service, 69 Waterbury Road. Two masked men with handguns entered the back of the building and continued to the customer service area at the front, where they began to attack several workers, including the owner, police said.

A customer who witnessed the assault drew his legally registered firearm and fired at the suspects, who ran back out of the building, police said.

One of the suspects, a 44year-old man, was wounded and found dead near the business. The other escaped.

The business owner and an employee were taken to St. Mary’s Hospital in Waterbury for treatment of injuries.

An autopsy for the suspect who was killed was scheduled for Saturday.