COCOA, Fla. — An armed robber was shot by a convenience store owner late Tuesday night, Cocoa police said.
Police said two armed robbers stormed into the Chevron gas station convenience store on South Cocoa Boulevard and demanded money.
Officers said when the robbers pointed a gun at the store owner, he pulled out a gun and opened fire, hitting one of them.
After five armed robberies at his gas station, owner Sowann Suy said he knows it's shoot or be shot.
"If you don't grab the gun, you'll be dead. He pointed the gun at me and it was very scary. I grabbed my gun and shot him," said Suy.
Raw: Store owner allegedly shoots robber
Norrick Hyman, 31, was shot several times and tried to flee with the help of two other culprits, but to no avail.
Hyman tried to take a customer Wilson Trice's car that was parked at the pump.
"I ain't never see nothing like that in my life," Trice said.
Suy said he pulled Hyman out of the car, grabbed his gun and forced him to the ground, holding him at gunpoint until police showed up.
Suy said he fired shots at the car as it came toward him in the parking lot and the driver fled the area.
"We work hard for a living to support our family. All these people, they should work hard for it. Not go to anybody's store and rob it. That's not right," Suy said.
Law enforcement said they found the car a short time later in Rockledge with the culprits inside.
DeJuan Wright, 24, and Janisha Smith, 23, were arrested.
"Officers and sergeants had the scene under control in seconds and were able to separate independent witnesses that proved extremely helpful in getting out a description of the vehicle that was involved," said Detective Ben Erskine of the Cocoa Police Department. "Two of the suspects have been committing serious felonies in Cocoa for a long time."
Hyman was hospitalized and is undergoing surgery.
The three face robbery charges.
Hyman is in the hospital and will be arrested upon his release.
WFTV
