Store Customers Fight Back Against Alleged Gunman
— -- Two customers at a Florida convenience store decided to fight back after being ordered to hand over money by an alleged armed robber.
The two men, who have not yet been identified by police, were at a Coral Gables convenience store in Florida around 4:30 a.m. when the incident occurred.
Jovon Reddick, 32, was arrested after the incident and was allegedly found with a loaded handgun in his possession.
Officer Lauren Poole, of the Coral Gables Police Department, told ABC News that Reddick ordered the two men to get on their knees and hand over their wallets and money.
He told them, "Get on the ground empty your pockets or I'll shoot you," Poole told ABC News. She said that one of the customers immediately reacted and started walking towards Reddick and confronted him.
In store surveillance video, the man can be seen ignoring the alleged attackers demands and walking up to him before he and his friend grab the alleged attacker and hit him with a bottle as they fight.
"He just responded. He just reacted," Poole told ABC News, of the man walking toward the alleged attacker.
She said the man had his loaded gun concealed and that after the two customers realized he had a loaded gun, after police arrived, they appeared to be in shock. Poole said the police department does not advise people to fight back against an armed robber.
"We don't condone people not to comply to some of these types of demands in these situations," she told ABC News. "We are fortunate that it didn’t turn into a tragic situation."
After police arrived, Reddick claimed he was "just joking" and had kept the gun in his pocket, according the arrest report.
Reddick remains in jail on charges of armed robbery and possessing a weapon while committing an offense, according to police.
