Police have arrested a 36-year-old man who was shot in the leg by a Hartford bakery owner after allegedly trying to steal the store's tip jar.
Marcus Torres, of Hartford, was arrested and charged with first-degree attempted robbery and third-degree assault.
Police said Marcus Torres "made a motion as if he was removing a weapon from his waistband." He was taken to Hartford Hospital for treatment and was arrested upon his release.
Jessie Torres, who owns Barranquitas Mini Bakery at 262 Franklin Avenue with her husband, said she knew something was wrong right away when a man in a hoodie came in "looking weird."
The man tried to grab the jar, which held around $100 in tips, but it was screwed down to the counter because someone had stolen it before. Jessie Torres said he then started screaming at her husband.
"He just tried to pull the tip jar. ... He saw that he couldn’t take it, so he started screaming at my husband. He went after him and then whatever happened over there," Torres said. "I thought the guy was going to rob me because they’ve been robbing a lot of businesses on this street."
Jessie Torres' husband chased him down the street and shot him in the leg, she said.
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Police said Marcus Torres is no stranger to law enforcement and has been previously arrested in Hartford 27 times. He's being held on $100,000 bond and is due in court Wednesday.
Authorities questioned the bakery owner, who has a valid gun permit.
Police continue to investigate.
