A rash of pot shop robberies in WA state; suspected robber killed at Covington store

We’re learning more about an attempted robbery at Euphorium pot shop in Covington in King County. A would-be robber was shot dead there Thursday night.

And an employee who happens to be the ID checker at the front door is now being called a hero.

It was 7:45 pm when a young man in his late teens or early 20s tried to rob this pot shop, according to police.

King County sheriff’s detectives are still investigating.

On Friday, KOMO News heard from the Director of Operations at Euphorbium about what led up to the fatal shooting.

“One of our employees was on break in his car. He exited his car and was walking back toward the store. A gentleman came up behind him out of the dark, grabbed him in a headlock and put a gun to his head and started walking him down here to the front door,” said Ryan Evans with Euphorium. “Our ID checker confirmed that with him. He said 'yes, are you serious, you are robbing us right now? This is a robbery.' He put his attention to our security guard. And our ID checker drew his gun and fired.”

Evans said the man who shot and killed the suspected robber, works at the pot dispensary as an ID checker at the front door. That same employee also works for Rehv Arms, which is right next door to the marijuana dispensary. That employee has a concealed carry permit and carries a gun, according to Evans.

The two employees involved in the attempted robbery are both taking some time off.

Evans says he wants everyone to know the ID checker is a hero.

None of the other employees or customers inside the store were ever hurt.

The Cannabis Professionals Network told KOMO News there have been 77 pot store robberies so far this year in Washington state. About 90 percent of them have involved a gun.