CCTV footage caught the moment an elderly convenience store owner shot a would-be robber who burst into the store waving a gun.
Footage showed a masked man carrying an AR-15-style rifle entering Norco Market & Liquor in Norco, California, shortly before 3am on Sunday morning.
After entering, the man points the gun directly at the 80-year-old owner, before shouting: “Freeze, hands in the air.”
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But the store-owner quickly whipped out his own gun from underneath the counter and fired a shot at the would-be robber, which hit him in the arm.
Footage from outside shows another man - who is also carrying a gun - get out of a black vehicle and head towards the store; however, he makes a hasty retreat when he hears the gun shot and the first man flees the shop shouting: “He shot my arm off! He shot my arm off!”
The two men get back into the car, and drive off.
Following the incident, Riverside County sheriff’s arrested three suspects - Justin Johnson, 22, Jamar Williams, 27, and Davon Broadus - at a local hospital along with the primary suspect.
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In a statement, the sheriff’s department said: “With the assistance of another law enforcement agency, the suspects were located at a hospital in the Southern California region, one of whom was suffering from a gunshot wound consistent with a shotgun blast.
“Three additional suspects were also located at the hospital in the suspect vehicle, which had been previously reported stolen.”
Officials said the primary suspect is a 23-year-old male who is currently in a critical but stable condition at the hospital. They said they will reveal his identity after he is discharged.
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According to employees at the store, the owner suffered a heart-attack after the incident but was discharged from hospital the following evening and is expected to make a full recovery, Fox 11 reports.
Riverside County Sheriff’s Office said in a press release: “In this case, a lawfully armed member of our community prevented a violent crime and ensured their own safety, while being confronted with multiple armed suspects.
“This investigation is active and ongoing and no additional information will currently be released.”
Employees at the store told Fox11 that the 80-year-old owner had seen the suspect get out of the car and put on a mask, so had reached for his own weapon.
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Store manager Marnia Tapia said: “He just prepared himself… and he stood right here, aimed and shot.”
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Claire Reid