Armed clerk turns tables on would-be robbers

SHREVEPORT, LA (KSLA) - A convenience store clerk fought back as an armed duo burst into the store where he was working.  Those bandits got a big surprise of their own, before rushing out for their own safety.

The attempted armed robbery happened just after 11:30 Wednesday night at the Fina gas station and store in the 44-hundred block of Hilry Huckaby Drive in north Shreveport.  The owner said he's just grateful that his little brother survived.  He granted me access to the store and the security system which captured the whole thing on tape.

The surveillance video shows two men bursting in, both armed.  But the clerk behind the counter wasn't the only employee in the store.  "Another worker, he was in the back of the store, he came out.  When they hear him coming out they run to him," said store co-owner Amin Salah.

Salah continued, explaining that the employee in the back of the store diverted attention away long enough to give Amin's little brother Fayez the moment he needed behind the counter to reach down and grab their 9-millimeter handgun.  Fayez, known by customers by his nickname of 'Foo Foo' can be seen firing several rounds while still on his knees behind the counter.

From their entry to exit those armed robbers were only in the store 12-seconds and were not hit by the unexpected gunfire that sent them scrambling out.  Salah lamented, "somebody can get hurt; maybe my brother, maybe them.  And we didn't need, you know, nobody to be hurt like this."

Customer Kenta Ellis told me he went through almost the exact same situation at his job a year ago.  Ellis recalled having to make the same life-and-death decisions.  "I grabbed a gun and shot at the dude in the back."

Before this attempted armed robbery, Salah said no one had tried to rob them in their 8-years after buying store.  And he's hoping this was the last.  If you know anything about the case, call Crimestoppers at area code (318) 673-7373.

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