James Richard Blassingame v. State Texas

At approximately 8:00 p.m. on the night of October 20, 1969, an individual identified as the appellant, entered Jamesons Pharmacy in Oak Cliff, brandishing a double-barrel shotgun. After directing the employees to the area near the prescription case at the rear of the store, he told them to "freeze." He then instructed the pharmacist on duty, Bob Mink, to "get to work on that safe. Get me all your money and all your narcotics." While the appellant was there, four people entered the store. One of those was a delivery boy for another pharmacy; he too was ordered to the rear of the store. The second person to come in was an unidentified customer. After being told by the appellant to wait on the customer, one of the other employees, Bill Grimes, went to the front of the store in compliance. The person was assisted and left the store, apparently unaware that any offense was taking place. Then an off-duty employee, Sheila Urick, and her husband came into the store to purchase some medicine.