Omaha Police say that one of the owners of the Benson Jewelry and Loan fired a weapon that killed a would-be robber and critically injured his alleged accomplice on Tuesday afternoon.

Investigators say that 18-year-old Kendall Tealer and 17-year-old Brandon Bowie went into the business near 61st and Maple around 3:30 Tuesday afternoon with the intention of robbing the business.

The co-owners of the business are Ken Blankenship and Norm Sargent.

Blankenship and Sargent say Bowie had a gun to Sargent's head. Blankenship fired a gun that he had behind the counter for security, critically injuring Bowie. Then, Blankenship says he saw Tealer make a quick move. He says he thought Tealer was armed so he fired, fatally wounding Tealer.

Police say that one of the suspects jumped over the counter, the other went around the counter through the swinging half door and grabbed a shotgun.

Once behind the counter, police say the suspects ordered the co-owners to the ground at gunpoint.

A statement from police indicates that one of the owners then "began to fire a gun that he had hidden behind the counter at the suspects. Brandon Bowie, fell inside of the business and is currently hospitalized, Kendall Tealer was able to get outside of the business before collapsing and dying."

Records indicate Tealer was free on bond awaiting trial on burglary and theft charges in Lancaster County when he was shot to death.

The Lancaster County case involves a crime that was committed in October.

Tealer had a long list of encounters with the law. Records show that he is linked to nine misdemeanor cases in Douglas County since 2003.

James Martin Davis, the store owners' attorney, says he doesn't expect charges to be filed in the case. He says it was a righteous shooting.

That's also the opinion of a fellow Benson Businessman.

Bryan Hill was among the concerned watching events unfold yesterday. He owns an entertainment business down the block from Benson Jewelry & Loan.

He knows both Sargent and Blankenship and says businesses have a right to defend themselves.

"Being a businessman, you hate to see anything like this happen to anybody and you have a right to protect your property," said Hill. "I think what he did was probably justified. It's unfortunate that it happened, but it did."

Blankenship and Sargent have been in business in Benson for 14 years. They say they're attached to Benson and their customers but they may not reopen after this experience.