Clerk Killed In Milton Liquor-Store Holdup

A man shot one clerk to death and wounded another while robbing a Milton liquor store last night in what is being called the Pierce County town's first homicide.

The slain man was identified as Bud Bond of Puyallup, believed to be in his 50s. The woman, 70, was in stable condition at Good Samaritan hospital in Puyallup this morning, a hospital spokeswoman said.

Acting Milton Police Chief Stan Jack said the holdup man entered the Edgewood Liquor Store at 524 E. Meridian Ave. just before closing time at 7 p.m. and waited about 15 minutes for customers to leave.

When the store was empty, Jack said, "he apparently just started shooting for no reason." The woman called 911 and told police she heard a car driving away. The robber took the cash register.

Bond was found dead at the scene. Both victims were shot in the chest. Numerous shots were fired, apparently from a handgun, Jack said.

Bond was well-known in the area and was the founding president of the Milton-Edgewood Lions' Club.

He owned his own real-estate brokerage in Puyallup but reportedly took a part-time job in the liquor store about six years ago to supplement his income.

"He was a very quiet, mild person," said Chuck Elmore, a past Lion's Club president and resident of Puyallup's South Hill. "He never got mad at anyone."

In his off-hours, Bond helped out at the local food bank, formed a community band of Puyallup high-school students and adults that still marches in parades and performs at area community centers.

Milton, with a population of 5,500, straddles the King-Pierce County line.

Police are asking anyone who was in or near the store yesterday at closing time who may have information to call Milton police at 922-8735. The suspect is described as a man in his late 20s wearing a green sweatshirt.