Pharmacist, Technician Quit After Pharmacy Robbery

A pharmacist and technician quit their jobs at a pharmacy in Hawaii after a robber threatened them with a BB gun that they thought was a real weapon.

Kappa Pharmacy owner Kevin Glick told The Associated Press that the trauma from the ordeal eventually pushed the pharmacist to quit the profession completely.

The culprit behind the crime, Walter Mills, 42, previously pleaded guilty to robbing the pharmacy last year. He entered Kappa Pharmacy wearing a mask and carrying a BB gun, which he pointed at staff. He then stole nearly 2000 pills of OxyContin, oxycodone, hydrocodone, morphine, and methadone, according to court documents.

For those crimes, Mills was sentenced on July 26, 2016, to about 6 years in federal prison, in addition to 3 years of supervised release. He must also pay back more than $1000 for the value of the prescription painkillers.

At his sentencing hearing in federal court, Mills acknowledged that he traumatized pharmacy staff.

“I don’t feel good about that,” he said, according to The Associated Press. “What happened was bad. ...I’m guilty as sin.”

Asked about Mills, Glick told the news source, “I hope I never hear from him again.”

Mills is also facing sentencing for a separate Walmart theft case, said Assistant US Attorney Jill Otake.