Flower Shop Owner Hospitalized After Being Shot by Robbers

Robbers, who may have been annoyed that the flower shop they held up had so little money, shot the owner as he tried to escape Wednesday, sending him crashing through the shop’s front window.

Barry Gerard, 49, suffered a flesh wound in the buttocks and will recover, authorities said.

Gerard was trying to flee from three robbers at Tommy’s Flowers in the 6000 block of Laurel Canyon Boulevard at 10:30 a.m. when he was shot, said North Hollywood robbery Det. Rick Jamieson. After he was hit, Gerard crashed through the store’s front window before staggering into traffic on the busy street.

As his shocked wife and other employees watched, Gerard was taken to Providence Holy Cross Hospital in Mission Hills where he was listed in good condition, said hospital spokeswoman Jennifer Bruce. .

The three bandits escaped.