MESQUITE, TX - Video footage shows the moments when an armed Texas store owner defends himself in a shootout with would-be robbers.
According to Fox News, two armed suspects entered a Cash for Gold store located in the 1100 block of N Town East Blvd in Mesquite, Texas, just before 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, November 2nd. The Mesquite Police Department (MPD) stated that security camera footage from inside the store shows the owner in the back of the store when the two suspects entered.
The suspects were in hooded sweatshirts and walked in with their weapons drawn. Video footage shows one suspect pointing his gun at the store owner. Unbeknownst to them, the owner was prepared and pulled out his own firearm, trading fire with the suspects, who quickly fled the scene.
The store owner, who asked to be identified by his first name only, Tien, told Fox4 Dallas-Forth Worth that, "It's a quick three seconds. No time to think. It's all reaction." Tien said that this was the third time someone has tried to rob him in the past five years.
He said that every single time, he has scared them off and the police have caught them. His quick reaction to the most recent would-be robbery may have just saved his life. Tien said, "Everything was slow motion for me. I saw the mask, I saw the hoodie. I saw the gun come out."
Tien said he shot first and then the two men fired back at him three times. No one was injured during the shootout, but bullets hit the glass counter, the walls and Tien's golf bag. He said, "Luckily, it wasn't me."
This is just the latest time Tien has had to defend himself and his store. Back in July of 2019, surveillance footage reportedly shows two armed men come into his store. When they try to get Tien in the back of the store, he fires off a warning shot and the two men ran off.
Tien said, "I think the cash business, the gold business, seems to be an easy target for them or so they think, but it's not." The suspects from the latest robbery attempt are still on the run. MPD shared the still photos from the security camera video. Lieutenant Brandon Ricketts said, "Our hope is that someone sees these videos, sees these images and recognizes, especially the suspect that doesn't have his face covered."
Even after the several robbery attempts on his store, Tien said he is not moving the business for three reasons. He said, "Part luck, part awareness, part prep. It all adds up."
According to authorities with MPD, the two armed men are looking at aggravated robbery charges if and when they are caught and arrested.
The New York Post reported that in January of this year, Tien was interviewed by WFAA about a $2 million jewelry heist at the nearby Town East Mall. At the time, he said that he recently had $75,000 of inventory stolen from his car when he stopped at a store on the way home.
According to Fox News, two armed suspects entered a Cash for Gold store located in the 1100 block of N Town East Blvd in Mesquite, Texas, just before 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, November 2nd. The Mesquite Police Department (MPD) stated that security camera footage from inside the store shows the owner in the back of the store when the two suspects entered.
The suspects were in hooded sweatshirts and walked in with their weapons drawn. Video footage shows one suspect pointing his gun at the store owner. Unbeknownst to them, the owner was prepared and pulled out his own firearm, trading fire with the suspects, who quickly fled the scene.
The store owner, who asked to be identified by his first name only, Tien, told Fox4 Dallas-Forth Worth that, "It's a quick three seconds. No time to think. It's all reaction." Tien said that this was the third time someone has tried to rob him in the past five years.
He said that every single time, he has scared them off and the police have caught them. His quick reaction to the most recent would-be robbery may have just saved his life. Tien said, "Everything was slow motion for me. I saw the mask, I saw the hoodie. I saw the gun come out."
Tien said he shot first and then the two men fired back at him three times. No one was injured during the shootout, but bullets hit the glass counter, the walls and Tien's golf bag. He said, "Luckily, it wasn't me."
This is just the latest time Tien has had to defend himself and his store. Back in July of 2019, surveillance footage reportedly shows two armed men come into his store. When they try to get Tien in the back of the store, he fires off a warning shot and the two men ran off.
Tien said, "I think the cash business, the gold business, seems to be an easy target for them or so they think, but it's not." The suspects from the latest robbery attempt are still on the run. MPD shared the still photos from the security camera video. Lieutenant Brandon Ricketts said, "Our hope is that someone sees these videos, sees these images and recognizes, especially the suspect that doesn't have his face covered."
Even after the several robbery attempts on his store, Tien said he is not moving the business for three reasons. He said, "Part luck, part awareness, part prep. It all adds up."
According to authorities with MPD, the two armed men are looking at aggravated robbery charges if and when they are caught and arrested.
The New York Post reported that in January of this year, Tien was interviewed by WFAA about a $2 million jewelry heist at the nearby Town East Mall. At the time, he said that he recently had $75,000 of inventory stolen from his car when he stopped at a store on the way home.
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