Police Shoot Armed Robbery Suspect

The suspect in a Pottstown armed robbery on Saturday is in the hospital recovering from a gunshot wound.

The robbery happened at Turkey Hill Minit Market, 798 N. Charlotte Street in .

In a press release issued by Montgomery County First Assistant District Attorney Kevin R. Steele, charges against David Lamar Hill, 25, of Pottstown, include robbery, possession of instrument of crime, simple assault and criminal trespass.

Montgomery County District Attorney Risa Vetri Ferman and Chief Mark Flanders announced the charges in the release.

Under the release, Hill at approximately 1:20 a.m. Saturday entered the Turkey Hill store wearing a white shirt over his head.

"He approached the clerk pointing a gun at him and demanding all the money," according to the release. "The clerk complied and gave the defendant the money from the register."

At the time of the robbery, two Pottstown police officers from the department's Community Response Unit were conducting surveillance at the store. They were in plain clothes but wore their badges around their necks to display their authority, the release states.

"The surveillance was being conducted in response to robberies of (four) convenience stores in Pottstown since October 2, 2011," the release states. "The surveillance officers observed the gunpoint robbery in progress after the suspect entered the Turkey Hill Store."

While the suspect was pointing a handgun at the store clerk, the officers approached the exterior of the store, the release states.

"The suspect exited the store carrying the handgun and turned toward the officers. Both officers fired their duty weapons. The defendant was struck in the leg, but was able to flee south on Charlotte Street." 

Police searched the area and at 5 a.m. discovered someone had trespassed onto the property of the First Presbyterian Church, located at 750 North Evans Street, by breaking a window and entering the church.

"Officers searched the interior of the church and located a male, later identified as David Lamar Hill, hiding inside the church. Hill was bleeding from an apparent gunshot wound to his lower leg, taken into custody and transported to Reading Hospital for treatment," the release states. "The defendant will be arraigned after being released from the hospital. The shooting is being investigated by the Montgomery County District Attorneys Office."

Read how to the shootings.