Published: January 15, 2008 08:44 am            

w/VIDEO: Suspect shoots self in genitals

Derrick Kosch is accused in VP stick-up gone wrong

A Kokomo man was taken to the hospital Tuesday morning after accidentally shooting himself in the genitals while in the process of robbing a Village Pantry.

Police said Derrick Kosch, 25, Kokomo, shot himself as he was placing the handgun in the waistband of his pants after robbing the convenience store at 100 N. Ohio St.

Kosch was released from Howard Regional Health System Tuesday afternoon and booked into the Howard County jail on a charge of armed robbery, criminal recklessness and battery. He is being held on a $100,000 cash bail.

Officers responded to the store at 4:20 a.m. after the clerk called 911 to report the robbery and shooting.

The clerk advised 911 that shots had been fired inside the store and it was believed the suspect had shot himself during the robbery, Lt. Jeff Kirk said.

Click here to hear the 911call from Village Pantry




Upon arrival officers learned that a black male entered the store brandishing a semi-automatic handgun and demanded cash from the female clerk. The suspect provided the clerk with a white cloth bag to place the cash into and while she was doing so he also demanded Newport cigarettes. As the clerk turned to retrieve the cigarettes, she heard a gun shot and turned around to confront the suspect, who yelled out that he’d shot himself, Kirk said.

The suspect grabbed the bag with the money and fled the store. The clerk was not injured in the incident.



The in-store surveillance cameras showed the suspect shooting himself as he placed his weapon into the waistband of his pants.

As investigators were working the scene, 911 received a call about a person at 1041 E. North St., who had been shot. Officers arrived at the residence and discovered Kosch had a gunshot wound to his right testicle and lower left leg.

Click here to hear the suspect's 911 call




While at the scene on North Street, detectives said they recovered the white cloth bag with the money taken from the Village Pantry as well as the clothing depicted in the surveillance worn by the suspect.

Mike Fletcher may be reached at (765) 454-8565 or via e-mail at mike.fletcher@kokomotribune.com

        

• Click to discuss this story with other readers on our forums.