One shot during flea market robbery

PINELLAS PARK -- A young St. Petersburg couple are in jail in connection with a Sunday afternoon armed robbery at the Wagon Wheel Flea Market that left one person shot and injured, deputies said.

Emanuel LaTorre, 20, left, and Aspyn Helle-Smith, 18, right, were arrested on one count each of armed robbery shortly after the 4 p.m incident, according to the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office.

The shooting victim, identified only as 20 years old, was shot in the left ankle, deputies said. The victim was taken to Bayfront Medical Center with injuries not thought to be life-threatening.

Deputies said LaTorre and Helle-Smith, both of St. Petersburg, where at the flea market, 7801 Park Blvd. in unincorporated Pinellas, when they saw the victim with a large amount of cash.

Their plan: As Helle-Smith waited in LaTorre's white 1994 Lincoln Continental with the engine running, LaTorre waited for the victim to make a cash purchase, deputies said.

When the victim began looking at watches for sale at a booth, LaTorre pulled out a .45-caliber automatic handgun and ordered the person to hand over the money. The victim was shot as he turned around abruptly, deputies said.

LaTorre grabbed the money and a bag containing unknown items bought at the flea market before jumping into the waiting car and fleeing, deputies said.

Eleven minutes later, deputies responding to a 911 call saw LaTorre's vehicle going north on Seminole Boulevard. The couple, both of 501 116th Ave. N, were held in lieu of $100,000 bail.

Rita Farlow and Luis Perez, Times staff writers

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