Three Gunmen Grab Cash, Cigarettes From Convenience Store

Three men toting handguns robbed a State Line mini-mart late Tuesday night, taking cash and cigarettes.

No one was hurt during the robbery but, “We’re all real shook up,” said assistant store manager Lori Gibson.

Sporting “gang-type clothing,” the men walked into the Seltice Way Stop and Go at about 11:40 p.m., according to a Kootenai County Sheriff’s report. The three appeared to be in their 20s.

Employees Joseph Hewston, Sue Ann Brown and Barbara Cabbage were in the store at the time, according to the report.

One of the robbers pulled out a handgun and demanded that Hewston get cash out of two of the tills, Gibson said.

One of the women tried to run away, said Capt. Ben Wolfinger. To get her to stop, one of the robbers put a gun to the other woman’s head while the third robber encouraged him to shoot the woman.

“She ran and I think it just ticked them off,” said Gibson, who added that Hewston was able to pull the robbery alarm without the suspects noticing, Gibson said.

However, the three men left in a blue hatchback vehicle and, as of Wednesday evening, had not been caught, according to sheriff’s officials.

The suspects are described as black men wearing dark hooded tops and blue jeans.

Gibson said the store was robbed about five years ago.