Armed Robber Shot By Citizen With Concealed Carry Permit During Holdup Outside Detroit Deli

Detroit, MI – A citizen with a concealed pistol license (CPL) shot an armed robber during a holdup outside a Detroit deli last month, according to police.

Details about the Feb. 8 shooting were revealed in a criminal complaint on March 10, WDIV reported.

The incident occurred outside Carmen’s Delicatessen on Gratiot Avenue at approximately 9:53 p.m., according to investigators.

Police responded to the scene after Shot-Spotter technology alerted them to three gunshots being fired in the deli parking lot.

Responding officers were flagged down by two individuals, one of whom held his hands over his head and immediately told police he was a CPL holder, WDIV reported.

The man said he and his friend were being robbed outside the deli and that he fired once at their attacker in self-defense, according to court documents.

The CPL holder said he and his friend had noticed a younger man in a ski mask and a blue Detroit Lions jacket talking with an older man outside the store when they arrived there shortly before the shooting, WDIV reported.

The two men allegedly followed the CPL holder and his friend as they left the store and headed to their car, but the older man eventually broke away and only the younger suspect continued to approach them.

According to court documents, security footage showed the suspect pulling out a black gun and pointing it at the CPL holder’s friend, WDIV reported.

The gunman allegedly ordered the CPL holder to hand over all his belongings and threatened to kill his friend if he didn’t comply, police said.

The CPL holder handed over his wallet, at which point the suspect started patting him down with one hand while holding his gun in the other, WDIV reported.

The video showed him motioning towards the CPL holder’s head with the gun, police said.

That’s when the CPL holder suddenly pulled out his own gun and fired at the suspect, hitting him in his chest, according to investigators.

Police said the gunman pointed his weapon at the CPL holder just before they ran off in separate directions, WDIV reported.

Detroit police found the wounded suspect lying on the ground outside the store.

In addition to locating the CPL holder’s wallet among the suspect’s belongings, they also found a loaded Ruger P95DC that appeared to have malfunctioned lying near him, investigators said.

The suspect was later identified as 28-year-old Joshua Fordham, a convicted felon with prior armed robbery and weapons charges, according to Michigan Department of Corrections (DOC) records.

Fordham is facing a charge of unlawful possession of a firearm, but it is unclear whether any other offenses may be pending against him.

Fordham was sentenced in 2014 to two years in prison on a felony firearms charge and five to 15 years on an armed robbery offense.

He was released on November 12, 2022.