Father with concealed-carry permit dies in shootout with robbers

A Chicago father of two with a concealed-carry permit died in a shootout with two robbers who were attempting to steal from a store, the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Last Friday, Derrick Gholston, 43, stood outside the business in Roseside when two men allegedly approached him with a handgun and demanded his belongings, police said. After he complied, the suspects walked into the store and announced another robbery.

Authorities said Gholston followed the robbers into the shop, pulled out his gun and confronted them. A gunfight ensued, and the 43-year-old, along with one of the robbers, 18-year-old Carlos Smith, were struck. The two were taken to a local hospital, where they died an hour after the shootout.

An autopsy conducted on Sunday revealed that both Gholston and Smith died after being hit in the torso, according to the newspaper. Their deaths were ruled homicides.

Law enforcement said that a 51-year-old man who was inside the shop during the attempted robbery was also struck twice in the leg. He was later stabilized at the hospital.

Police are still searching for the second robbery suspect, who fled immediately following the shootout.