BURLINGTON, NC - One person is dead and two others are recovering from a shooting and robbery at Gone Fishing Sweepstakes in Burlington Sunday night.
Just after 9 p.m., police found three people hurt at the business according to a release. An employee and a customer were suffering from head wounds after being hit multiple times while a security guard had been shot once in the torso.
The security officer, Michael Thomas Le, 25, of Greensboro was pronounced dead at the hospital after being shot in the back. The other two were treated and released from the hospital with bruising and swelling to the head.
Three suspects left on foot headed toward South Beaumont Ave. The sweepstakes was robbed along with one patron and three employees inside. The security officer's weapon was stolen from him.
A witness said the suspects were in a dark-colored car. Burlington police are following up on leads, but haven't identified the suspects yet.
Assistant Police Chief Chris Verdeck calls these types of businesses a nuisance. He says they deal in all cash, making them targets for robbery. In 2017, police responded to 36 instances of crimes at sweepstake-type businesses in Burlington.
“We’ve had the gamut of crimes at these places from breaking in, robbing the patrons as they come or go and then robbing the businesses,” he said.
The state’s Alcohol Law Enforcement branch monitors gambling businesses. While lawmakers have passed legislation banning certain machines and games, the ALE says the owners of one type of software are fighting the state and many other businesses open, just hoping law enforcement doesn’t have the resources to shut them down.
Anyone with information should call the Burlington Police Department at (336) 229-3500. For anonymous methods, call Alamance County-Wide Crimestoppers at (336) 229-7100 or text 8398 to 274637 for a text-a-tip method, both with possible cash rewards.
