Fresno shoe maker has died following armed gun store robbery

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- An elderly shoe store owner has died after being knocked to the ground during an armed robbery in North Fresno.

85-year-old George Sheklian was taken off life support early Tuesday afternoon. He was a bystander during an armed robbery at a gun store when he was attacked.

Shoemaker Sheklian was delivering coffee to his neighbors, when he was shoved to the ground by armed robbery suspects. He suffered severe head trauma and was taken off life support Tuesday. Now police say the masked robbers are wanted for murder.

"You can see in the video that the suspect didn't have to hit him I mean that was done purposefully knocking him to the ground like that," said Fresno Police Lt. Joe Gomez.

Sheklian's silhouette in this gun store doorway is all you see before he's pushed to the ground. Moments before -- right next door to the shoe repair store Sheklian once owned -- the armed robbers are seen on surveillance cameras stealing semi-automatic handguns in an armed robbery at a gun store.

"So if we make a stop and we come across one of those guns there's going to be a hit on it and the officer is going to know right away from those serial numbers," said Gomez.

Additional surveillance video released Monday by Fresno police show two vehicles, a white Cadillac and silver Dodge charger, identified as getaway cars. The masked suspects aren't identifiable in the video.

"It's going to be more difficult if they're a traveling crew with these big crimes like this. They could be from out of town. If they're local it's going to be a better scenario for us," said Gomez.

Tuesday, security system vehicles were seen beefing up security all around the North Fresno complex that was hit. All that remains at the shoe store Sheklian owned -- are candles and flowers in his memory.

In addition to potential murder charges, the suspects could also be facing federal gun charges now that the ATF is involved in the investigation. There is a $15,000 reward for anyone who has information about this case.