North Tulsa Store Owner Says He Tried To Keep Armed Robber Calm

A convenience store owner said he helped keep a suspect calm until police arrived, after the man robbed him at gunpoint Wednesday afternoon.

Deangelo Jamison is being held in the Tulsa County jail for robbery with a firearm and possession of a firearm after a felony conviction.

John Shaw owns the Dash Inn in north Tulsa. Shaw said he's been running the Dash Inn for 6 years, and this is the first time he's been robbed.

Police say, around 12:30 p.m., a man went into the store in the 1500 block of East Apache, with a handgun and demanded a pack of cigarettes, a lighter and $20.

After leaving the store, the armed suspect was met by police who opened fire.

"I was talking to him, 'Brother, please help me out, don't do anything to my customers, don't do anything to me,'" Shaw said.

For nearly 20 minutes, Shaw and three customers inside the Dash Inn pleaded with the armed man to remain calm.

"They were really scared, because he was showing the gun all the time," Shaw said.

But the suspect didn't leave after he got what he came for.

"I was trying to talk to him. I think I can handle this situation, if I talk to him," Shaw said.

The store owner said, after a few minutes, the man came back up to the register, demanding another $20.

Shaw said it was important to give the robber what he wanted, because neither he nor his customers could reach a phone.

"We knew he was still inside this business," said Officer Jillian Roberson.

Tulsa Police say they were called by two customers who walked up to the doors, and realized what was going on.

"As we arrived, the suspect was exiting and officers gave him multiple commands to drop the weapon," Roberson said.

After those commands failed, an officer fired once at the suspect.

"If that suspect refuses to obey our command, and still brandishes a weapon, they don't leave us with any other choice," Roberson said.

The officer's bullet missed, but it did cause the suspect to drop his weapon.

"At that time, he was tased by an officer," Roberson said.

The store owner said he was surprised that even one shot was fired and believes the suspect may have been mentally unstable.

"His mind was, he was going to rob me, but when I talked to him I convinced him," Shaw said.

No one was injured in the robbery.

Court records show Deangelo Jamison was convicted of possession of a controlled drug with intent to distribute in 2008 and assault and battery in 2009, as well as false impersonation in 2012.

That same year, Jamison was charged with possession of a firearm after a felony conviction and discharging a weapon into a dwelling or public place. The affidavit states that Jamison produced a gun during an argument with his girlfriend, before she gathered her children and fled to another apartment. Jamison was accused of trying to kick the glass door in, ultimately firing two shots into it. Those charges were dismissed after the prosecution's witness failed to appear in court, according to records.

Jamison is being held on $110,000 bond.