WATCH: Legally-Armed Customer Holds Beer And Shoots Robbery Suspect

in Authors, Defensive Use of Firearms, Kimber Pearce, This Week

Estimated reading time: 3 minutes

Watch the new footage from when a beer-toting customer shot a robber last month.

Surveillance footage was released three days ago, showing us exactly what happened. The incident started when the robber walked in. Police say he pulled a mask over his face while saying, “You know why I’m here.”

The gas station in Michigan has videos from two angles showing the suspect, the clerk, and another customer buying beer at the moment things heated up. 

The robber, now identified as 35-year-old Cordelius Anthony Martin, went behind the counter. He reportedly threatened the clerk, telling him to empty the cash register. 

A customer, who declined to share his name, was in the store when the incident occurred. According to police, he “saw the fear on [the clerk’s] face” and pulled his legally owned firearm. 

The Hero Was Buying Beer

According to Wood TV, the customer was holding a “six-pack of light beer” when he fired at the robber. The robber, who had been using a boxcutter as a weapon, dropped to the ground.

The video footage shows that the customer, still holding the beer, approached and fired 3 more shots. Wood TV says that a liquor bottle was hit. 

One final shot was fired, and the customer shot at the robber a total of 7 times.

Martin was hit in the arm, back, and face. He attempted to crawl towards the beer-toting customer, who went out to his car to retrieve another magazine. He held Martin at gunpoint until police arrived.

Martin sustained severe gunshot injuries and was recently released from the hospital.

The Consequences of the Attempted Robbery

Martin was charged on multiple counts, and as a convicted felon, he could face up to life in prison for this attempted robbery. As of the most recent news, he is being held on bail of $100,000.

The customer who saved the day lives four blocks from the minimart and had an a valid Concealed Carry Permit. He is waiting to hear from police if his act of shooting will result in charges. 

READ MORE: CNN Gushes Over Former Marine Who Voluntarily Turns Over Guns to Police 

When asked about it, the county prosecutor, Victor Fitz had a few things to say.

“In Michigan, obviously, we do have defense of others as part of the law in Michigan, that you can defend others if they’re in a situation that there’s dangerous force being used against them,” he said regarding the customer’s response to Martin’s actions.

“And certainly in this case, we’ll be looking at the facts in regard to that,” he added. 

The clerk, while refusing to show his face on camera, told Wood TV that the customer “saved his life.”

Do you think the customer’s actions were right?

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About the author: Kimber Pearce is a student, an avid shooter, and a pro-2A advocate.

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  • Jim December 5, 2023, 3:37 pm

    I’d like to pay for the man some range time.

  • John Leake December 4, 2023, 11:38 pm

    The bias of the “press ” continues to confound me and frustrate me. Where do we have a free and unbiased press? I know of none other than small limited

  • Roger Hawthorne December 4, 2023, 1:51 pm

    Needs to hit the range more. 7 shots and the perp is already out of the hospital. He wasn’t more than 10’ from him. Also self dense doesn’t mean empty your mag unles, I guess, you shoot like this guy.

  • Dale E Francis December 4, 2023, 1:44 pm

    Absolutely!He saved the clerks life. Thank the lord almighty he was there.

  • Reader December 4, 2023, 12:57 pm

    Good Shoot.
    Cept he didn’t kill the trash.

  • jerry December 4, 2023, 10:58 am

    When the threat is stopped you must stop shooting. It’s a judgement call but remember that others will be judging your actions. Your actions must seem “reasonable” to others in court. Ultimately, the public at large (you and me) is safer because of this hero who put his safety and his very freedom at risk to help another. Stay safe. j

    • Jim December 5, 2023, 3:44 pm

      If the perp is still moving, it’s still a threat.

  • Don Grinstead December 4, 2023, 8:56 am

    Such a misleading headline. How many of you clicked on this expecting someone shooting a gun holding an open beer bottle or otherwise was drinking? Did the editors not think we would click on the link if the headline mentioned the guy was holding a gallon of milk?

  • Mike A. December 4, 2023, 8:36 am

    The gun you carry, regardless of caliber, is better than no gun at all. Good shoot.

  • Irish-7 September 6, 2023, 4:29 pm

    Shot the perp 7 times and the guy was already released from the hospital?! Time for a larger caliber…..

  • Donna J Shillng-Croston August 28, 2023, 3:19 pm

    When the taxes we pay do not go for protection, we have to protect our selves. If the clerk were my daughter, I’d be hugging that defender.

  • Mac August 26, 2023, 7:02 pm

    In short, yes. Think they were acceptable in terms of the state law and not being charged…no issue there…but think he could/should have acted differently, to wit: One, regardless of weapon size (small here), put down your beer and shoot with two hands whenever possible. I didn’t hear the audio…just saw this video…so don’t know if the armed customer said anything to the suspect or not…a warning, etc…didn’t look like it. The suspect was behind the counter and busy at the register while the clerk was already retreating away when the first shots were fired from the front side of the counter. The suspect was little/no threat to the customer or the clerk from there with only a boxcutter. If he hadn’t yet produced a firearm, think the customer should have yelled a warning to the suspect to freeze or drop, hands-up, etc. before firing…maybe it wouldn’t have been necessary.

    • Dale E Francis December 4, 2023, 1:52 pm

      The guy was a scumbag for even trying to rob the store.He should of thought of the consequences before he even went in to rob the store. Live and learn or die and pay the reaper.

  • Doc423 August 26, 2023, 6:14 pm

    A Three-Time Felon???? Throw that worthless POS under the jail for the rest of his life…Super Kudos to the Customer who shot him!!!!

    • Doc423 August 26, 2023, 6:16 pm

      Funny, the Felon was shot in the Face….now he’ll get to look at that Scar in the prison cell mirror for the rest of his life!!!!

  • Chief August 26, 2023, 5:13 pm

    Don’t even think about it, Fitz. Decide for once to be part of the solution rather than part of the ongoing problem.

  • Kurt August 25, 2023, 7:16 pm

    This video shows that small caliber concealed carry gun often has ineffective stopping power. The perp not only survived but is already out of the hospital.
    At least carry a 9mm with heavier bullets to be effective. A 40 cal. is better option for stopping power but harder to conceal for some.

  • Billy M August 25, 2023, 6:56 pm

    As usual not a lot of info in the article. Why did he have to fire 7 times? From what I gathered, he hit the bad guy all 7 times. So I question what caliber and type of ammo he was using? Also, he had to reload after 7 rounds. I question what model of gun. I am impressed that he had 7 hits while holding a 6 pack (firing unsupported). Another bad guy off the street at least..

  • Budd August 25, 2023, 5:34 pm

    This old country boy says, “Hell YES!” It’s time to stop the bullshit.

  • kb31416 August 25, 2023, 5:10 pm

    It looks like he has the same Ruger LCP that I have for my EDC pistol. Easy to conceal and carry, beats the more capable G19 clone that I have for more serious social work, but that is difficult to carry.
    .380 ACP isn’t the most potent medicine, but better than the 9 mm that is in the car.
    And I do carry a second mag in my Recluse holster.

  • Maha August 25, 2023, 4:12 pm

    DAMN RIGHT.

  • Bob W August 25, 2023, 2:43 pm

    Sounds like the good guy wanted to kill the bad guy not just stop a robbery. Not that I care about a bad guy but call a spade a spade. Seven shots at close range. Holy cow.

  • John J kopec August 25, 2023, 2:24 pm

    i think he did the right thing

    • On W August 25, 2023, 9:48 pm

      I could only hope someone would do that for me if I was getting robbed but here in N Y the only ones with balls are the criminals. Cops are useless and the rest of us cant carry what we want where we want.

  • kjj August 25, 2023, 2:11 pm

    I guess the police think this robber should get to slice and dice customers and the clerk before anyone takes action like this customer did. Three time felon, three times convicted, it doesn’t take a rocket science to figure any of this out.

  • kjj August 25, 2023, 2:06 pm

    3 time felon! If only this hero customer could have put this puke down for good.

  • LJ August 25, 2023, 1:35 pm

    He’s a ‘three-time convicted felon’. What difference does that make this day and time?. The ‘Demoncrats’ tossed that 3 strikes-your-out rule out the window a long time ago. That’s no longer a deterrent. The ONLY deterrent is a bullet in the head. Unfortunately, this dirt-bag survived it.

  • John Holmes August 25, 2023, 1:07 pm

    That is like asking if limiting the access of a firearm to someone who is not a criminal(no criminal record)is reducing crime. The answer of course the data shows it does not.

    “Do you think the customer’s actions were right?”
    Of course it was, unless the person who is making a living to see that those who make a career on being a criminal have more rights than the victims they prey on.
    It is in the interest of our twisted/dual form of justice to foster crime so ‘they’ have a career to defend criminals.
    It is a thriving enterprise that is self-perpetuating to make it so and keep it growing.
    Crime does pay when it is made to flourish.

  • jim c August 25, 2023, 1:07 pm

    Let’s never forget that boxcutters were used to ultimately take down three airliners on 9/11.

  • Wilko August 25, 2023, 12:46 pm

    Any shots fired AFTER the subject was down AND NO LONGER PRESENTED A THREAT, could make the shooter subject to prosecution. Knowing when to stop shooting is almost as important as knowing when to start.

  • AR Libertarian August 25, 2023, 12:39 pm

    If he continued firing once the threat was neutralized, then yeah, he could have a problem.

    Once the robber was on the ground, it’s hard to justify continued shooting.

    • Doc423 August 26, 2023, 6:19 pm

      Not if the robber was crawling toward him as the article states.

  • Ralph Cramden August 25, 2023, 12:28 pm

    Its Mich. guys. A DimWitRAT shithole. They will try and prosecute the guy on “TRUMPED” up charges.

  • Jim August 25, 2023, 10:57 am

    If your going to carry a gun, carry spare ammo!

  • james parker August 25, 2023, 10:14 am

    The perp is a 3 time convicted felon. The shopkeeper said the shooter saved his life. The shooter possessed the required documentation for the weapon, and he acted in defense of the shopkeeper. He had to make a split second decision. It appears that his judgment was correct.

  • jose jimenez August 25, 2023, 9:30 am

    “Do you think the customer’s actions were right?”

    Absolutely not. He has now caused the state of Michigan a financial burden keeping the pod alive for the rest of his miserable life. The customer needs a bit more training so the next time it will come to a satisfactory conclusion for everyone except the perp.

    For those of you too dense to appreciate sarcasm, well, you belong on a different site.

  • Will August 25, 2023, 9:30 am

    Do you think the customer’s actions were right? He was forced into a position that no one should ever have to be in. Someone’s actions forced the customer into a reality he had nothing to do with creating. Wide latitude must be given to the customer. If the bad guys are held accountable by ordinary people, thievery like this would be reduced substantially.

  • eagle10 August 25, 2023, 8:32 am

    7 shots – one for each beer and one for good measure. Too bad for the broken liquor bottle.

    • Paul Labrador August 25, 2023, 1:30 pm

      And the perp LIVED! Great example of why arbitrary magazine capacity caps are stupid. Sometimes it takes all the rounds in your mag to stop a perp. If there’s more than one, you’re hosed

  • Kane August 24, 2023, 12:16 am

    He should get free beer for a year.

  • paul I'll call you what I want/1st Amendment August 22, 2023, 1:29 pm

    hell yeah! needs better shot placement though…….7 reds and he survived…….

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