SALT LAKE CITY -- A Joint Criminal Apprehension Team officer shot and killed a robbery suspect Wednesday, and the suspect's alleged accomplice was captured peacefully hours later.
Sandra Chotia-Thompson and Kelly Simons were both wanted in connection with armed robberies at several restaurants and a movie theater in the Salt Lake valley.
An armed robbery at Scaddy's Fresh Grill in Murray Saturday night was followed by a shootout with police. One of the women allegedly shot at a police officer, who returned fire. No one was injured in that shootout. Police said the suspects then stole a car and fled.
Simons was tracked down near Liberty Park Wednesday afternoon, and she allegedly tried to run over officers with a pickup truck when they tried to serve a warrant for her arrest.
A JCAT officer opened fire, killing Simons near 974 S Lake Street.
Chotia-Thompson allegedly committed another armed robbery Wednesday at The Grocery Store, 400 E 1200 S. The store clerk told FOX 13 News that the suspect in that robbery had a pistol and demanded money. The suspect got away with about $40.
Police said Chotia-Thompson called them Wednesday night, and the conversation ended in a peaceful surrender at the Smith's Marketplace store on the corner of 500 E and 600 S in Salt Lake City.
Chotia-Thompson was charged in connection with the robbery at The Grocery Store, and police said they're confident she and Simons match the descriptions of the suspects in robberies at a Red Mango restaurant, a Sconecutter restaurant, a Cinemark movie theater and Scaddy's Fresh Grill.
Family members say drug addiction is what turned the two women, who had no criminal histories, into alleged serial robbers who allegedly shot at police.
