SYRACUSE -- Syracuse Police have charged two men in connection with an armed robbery and shootout that led to a seven hour standoff on Syracuse's south side Tuesday afternoon.
Aaron Jackson, 20, is the man police say was the holdupman and exchanged fire with a police officer. Jackson is charged with attempted murder in the first degree and robbery in the first degree.
Jermain Grimes, 31, is facing charges of robbery first and criminal possession of a weapon. Police say he helped plan the robbery and served as the lookout man.
During a news conference Wednesday morning at the Syracuse Public Safety Building, police identified the officer who was shot at as Officer John "Jerry" Mulherin. It's not the first time he has made news while on duty. Police say Mulherin was injured in an attack in May, involved in a crash in 2008, and also shot at during a chase in 2002.
Police spokesman Sgt. Thomas Connellan says Mulherin was on patrol when he was flagged down by a mailman. The postal carrier told Mulherin he witnessed a masked man enter the Ormanni's Lemonade Heaven, a business in the 1200 block of South Avenue. Police say Jackson had robbed two patrons of the business when he was confronted by Officer Mulherin. Both Jackson and Grimes fled, with Jackson allegedly firing one, perhaps two shots at the officer. Mulherin fired three shots in return.
Connellan says several police units were already in the area on another investigation and quickly set up a perimeter around the building. Over the next several hours, police evacuated about 45 people who were at home in the building.
No one was injured in the incident. Both men fled into the three story apartment building that housed the business. Grimes was taken into custody just minutes after the standup. Jackson came out around 4:00 p.m.
One day after the standoff, there's still a police presence. People who live in the apartments above are now allowed back in. One of the businesses, Omanii's Lemonade Heaven will be opening up Thursday.
Cook Tony Cordero says he was in the back cooking when a customer jumped over the counted and he realized a robbery was happening. He ran out. Police say Jackson came to the restaurant robbing some customers at gunpoint. Cordero says he too chased after the suspect and was in the line of fire.
"Now I look back and think about it, a lot of people tell me Tony you're crazy, why did you do that? I was just reacting like anybody else," Cordero said.
For those who were holed up on their apartments, it was terrifying.
Angela Murphy was hiding in the bathtub with two children including her four year old daughter. Murphy says her daughter still doesn't want to go back into the building.
Murphy said her daughter "doesn't want to sleep here" and that "it's affected her more than anyone."
Click on the video player to watch an interview with Tony, one of the cooks at Ormanni's who was shot at during the attempted robbery.
Click here to download and read the felony complaint against Jackson and Grimes.
