At least 13 shots were fired at around 5:35 a.m. Monday at the Marathon Gas Station at Walnut Street and Winslow Road following a car theft.
Bloomington Police Department Lt. John Kovach said Paul Clark, 37, was arrested on preliminary charges of criminal recklessness with a firearm, pointing a firearm and carrying a handgun without a license.
BPD Capt. Ryan Pedigo said Clark started his girlfriend’s 2004 silver Chrysler 300 at 5:25 a.m. to warm it up before he left his apartment. He went back inside his apartment at 5:30 a.m. and looked out the window to see the car pulling away, Pedigo said.
Pedigo said Clark grabbed his girlfriend’s handgun, got into his girlfriend’s other car, a Dodge Journey, and chased after the thief.
Clark caught up to the thief at the Marathon and tried to block him in, Pedigo said. Clark got out of the Dodge, and the thief tried to drive eastbound away from Clark. Pedigo said Clark began shooting at the Chrysler as he drove away.
Clark got back into the Dodge and continued to chase the thief, Pedigo said. Clark lost the car and ended up finding it abandoned on Sherwood Hills Drive.
Kovach said this is the second stolen vehicle this week that was taken while the owner was warming it up. He said a 2002 Chevrolet TrailBlazer was stolen at 6:30 a.m. Sunday when a woman went back inside her apartment to get her kids. He said the car has not been recovered.
Kovach said people should use a spare set of keys to lock their vehicle if they plan on leaving it running to warm up.
