Marksman is on-target with armed robbers.

For nearly three decades, Jim Shema of Hebron, Indiana, has operated Jim Shema's Outdoor Sports in Merrillville. He is licensed to sell guns, has a personal gun permit, and is an experienced competitive marksman.

His store has suffered occasional breakins over the years, but not until July 28 of this year was there an attempted armed robbery. Shortly before 6 p.m. that day, three men entered and announced a robbery. One, armed with a sawed-off shotgun, ordered Mr. Shema, his wife, and three customers to lie on the floor. Shema believed that the man intended to kill them all, since he was not wearing a mask and made no attempt to disguise his identity.

As he dropped to the ground, Shema reached for a semi-automatic handgun kept behind the counter. Then he stood and fired two rounds that struck the shotgun-wielding thug in the left elbow and left kidney.

The three suspects fled, but the wounded man, 19-year-old Cody Hunt, was soon found by police inside a stolen vehicle parked behind an adjacent business. He was charged with attempted robbery. He was also wanted on a warrant for failing to appear on a charge of auto theft.