Retired sheriff’s deputy turns tables, opens fire on would-be robbers at Fresno ATM

A robbery victim turned the tables on a pair of bandits early Friday when the former sheriff’s deputy pulled a gun on them and opened fire at an ATM machine in northeast Fresno.

A woman who was driving a getaway car was wounded and the male bandit, who was armed with a stun gun, ran from the scene at El Paso and Blackstone avenues in the Marketplace at River Park.

The man, identified by Fresno police as Jeremy Lynd, 30, was on the loose Friday evening. Chief Jerry Dyer said Lynd might be connected to a string of crimes starting last week in Sacramento.

Dyer said Friday’s events unfolded about 5:15 a.m. at an Educational Employees Credit Union machine where the victim, a retired Fresno County sheriff’s deputy, was approached by Lynd, who said, “Boy, it’s cold out here.”

Lynd then tried to subdue the victim by shocking him with the stun gun, once in the neck and once in the lower back while demanding money, Dyer said.

But the victim, who has a concealed weapons permit, got back to his car and retrieved his pistol. That’s when the woman, identified as Bobbie-Sue Alexandra Nicole Sevier, 31, rammed the victim’s car with a Hyundai and reportedly also tried to strike the victim, who was standing outside the car.

The victim fired four rounds at the Hyundai, penetrating the vehicle and striking Sevier in the leg. She crashed the car into a planter at the Starbucks coffee shop next to the ATM.

Lynd ran south through the shopping center. Sevier was taken to Community Regional Medical Center, where she was treated for the gunshot wound and booked into Fresno County Jail on charges of attempted robbery, assault, carjacking and other crimes.

Police launched a search for Lynd, who is described as about 6 feet tall and thin with a light-colored beanie and a gray jacket and multiple tattoos on his neck. Police recovered the stun gun.

Suspect in other crimes

Dyer indicated Lynd might be connected to other crimes in the Sacramento area. A spokeswoman for the Sacramento Police Department said Lynd was the registered owner of a truck involved in a break-in in that city on Jan. 1. In that incident, a woman confronted suspects breaking into her car and one of the suspects brandished a handgun before running. Lynd also is a suspect in an armed robbery in Turlock this week.

Dyer said the victim was well trained and in defending himself “responded in a way I think any law enforcement officer would.”

Fresno County sheriff’s spokesman Tony Botti confirmed the victim was a retired deputy but would not identify him by name. Fresno police Lt. Burke Farrah said the retired deputy declined to speak with the media about the Friday morning incident, although he fully cooperated with police investigators.

Mims lauds actions

The deputy would likely possess a California Concealed Weapon permit because of his past occupation, but Fresno County Sheriff Margaret Mims said, “This is an example of why issuing CCWs to law-abiding citizens is important. The victim stopped the criminals from further serious injury to himself or others.”

Fresno County has issued about 10,000 concealed-carry permits, which Botti said are the most by any jurisdiction in the state. About 80 percent of the holders are men and 20 percent women.

Botti said the department normally received about 100 applications a month, but there has been a run since the San Bernardino mass shooting in early December. Reasons for the applications include personal protection, carrying a large amount of cash for a business, having a high-profile occupation such as a judge or politician or living in a remote area far from law enforcement.

Obtaining a permit costs about $400, not including the firearm.

Mims said the first question someone considering an application for a permit is, “Am I willing to get sued,” because anyone who shoots someone should anticipate a lawsuit from the person’s family.

This story was originally published January 8, 2016 at 9:23 AM with the headline "Retired sheriff’s deputy turns tables, opens fire on would-be robbers at Fresno ATM."