Cleveland man gets 24 years in prison for robbing Family Dollar, firing at police

CLEVELAND - A Cleveland man will spend the next 24 years behind bars for robbing a Family Dollar and firing shots at police.

Cedric Parker, 23, was slapped with the sentenced on Monday.

Masked and armed with a gun, Parker robbed the Family Dollar on Payne Avenue in June 2011.

Parker pointed the gun at the cashier and demanded money. At the same time, the cashier noticed police pulling into the parking lot.

That's when Parker ran toward the back of the store and tried hiding behind the store dumpster where he opened fire on two officers.

Parker then grabbed an 80-year-old woman, using her as a human shield while trying to flee again.

Police said Parker continued shooting at them over the elderly woman's shoulder. Parker then pushed the 80-year-old victim to the ground and ran back into the store, where he tried posing as a store employee and it worked.

Parker ended up getting away, but was arrested two months later. He pleaded guilty in March to a pair of aggravated robbery charges and others.

No one was hurt during the incident.