Convicted felon is charged in attempted robbery in the West Bottoms

Jackson County prosecutors have accused a 26-year-old convicted felon of attempting to hold up a restaurant supply store in the West Bottoms on Monday.

Jerome L. Theus of Kansas City is charged with first-degree attempted robbery and armed criminal action in the incident at the Restaurant Depot in the 1500 block of West 12th Street.

A security guard shot Theus during the attempted holdup.

According to court records, Theus walked into the business with his face covered and pointed a silver revolver at a security guard and the store manager.

The guard brandished his weapon and said, “Don’t do that.”

As he ran out of the building, Theus pointed his revolver at the security guard. Fearing for his safety, the guard fired 17 shots, striking Theus several times.

Theus ran toward where a dark-colored SUV had been parked outside. However, the driver sped away when the shooting began, leaving Theus.

Officers arrested Theus minutes later after he tried to climb into a semi-truck and the driver ordered him out.

Police later recovered a silver and black .380-caliber handgun that Theus apparently dropped. The Stafford County, Kan., sheriff’s office reported the weapon stolen in 2011.

Theus served six years in prison for a 2007 armed robbery conviction. He remained in a hospital Wednesday.

This story was originally published June 8, 2016 at 11:04 AM with the headline "Convicted felon is charged in attempted robbery in the West Bottoms."