TACOMA, Wash. — When a Tacoma convenience store owner was threatened with a knife during a robbery last week, he got the best of the suspect, defending himself with an even bigger knife.
Tacoma Police Department officers responded to the Salena One Market near South 11th Street and South Yakima Avenue on Feb. 5 just before 8 p.m. for reports of a robbery.
Naif Qatamin, who owns the Salena One Market, said the suspect pointed a knife at him and said, “Listen, this is a holdup.” The suspect allegedly demanded Qatamin open the till and give him money.
Qatamin recalled he replied, “I don’t think so, buddy,” before picking up a machete. Surveillance video from inside the store shows Qatamin waving the machete at the suspect.
The owner said the robber fell backward, and he held the suspect with the machete to wait for police to arrive.
“I just want to scare him,” Qatamin said. “I don’t want to hurt him.”
Joe Flowers approves.
h/t DR