United States

Gas Station Clerk Wrestles Gun From Robber, Shoots Him: Police

A store clerk wrestles a gun away from a robber and shoots one of three men who stole from a Mesquite gas station overnight, police say. [[317770551,C]]

Three men went into the Chevron at 3828 U.S. 80 at about 1 a.m. Tuesday and stole lottery tickets and cigarettes from behind the counter, according to Mesquite Police Department spokesman Sgt. Joe Smith.

One of the men was armed and demanded money from the clerk, Smith said. Surveillance video shows the clerk fight with the robber, take his gun and shoot him in the shoulder.

Police said the robber then took his gun back and hit the clerk in the face with it.

WARNING: This video may be disturbing to some. Mesquite police released video of a gas station clerk taking a gun from a robber and turning it on him shooting him in the arm.

The three men ran from the store, according to Smith. The robber who was shot collapsed in a nearby field. Police found him when they arrived at the gas station, arrested him and transported him to a hospital.

The other two ran away on a nearby service road before police arrived.

Police said the clerk suffered facial injuries and was treated by paramedics at the scene.

Smith said this is the fourth armed robbery at this gas station since February, likely because it's the only business open late in that area.

"Plus it's right off the freeway and it's dark," he said. "Crooks can hop off the roadway and be in and out in about a minute or so."

NBC 5's Jeff Smith contributed to this report.

Contact Us