A Littlestown, Pa., man pleaded guilty yesterday in Carroll County Circuit Court to charges of robbing a liquor store and shooting at the owner.

Nicholas D. Reese, 18, will be sentenced Aug. 25, court records show.

Prosecutors said Reese and a 14-year-old co-defendant used a .20-gauge shotgun to rob Penn-Mar Liquors on Francis Scott Key Highway near the Pennsylvania line May 7, 1997.

After taking a small amount of money, the bandits ran across a field to their getaway vehicle, parked on Ruggles Road. The store owner, Frank Boyd, chased them.

Police reported that Reese yelled, "Shoot him, shoot him." When the 14-year-old didn't shoot, Reese grabbed the shotgun and fired at Boyd, who fell to the ground.

Police said Reese called a man 45 minutes later, crying and saying he was afraid he had shot and killed a man while robbing a liquor store.

The man informed police, and Reese was arrested.

Charges against the boy were handled by juvenile authorities.

Pub Date: 6/03/98