Man intervenes after witnessing robbery, fatally shoots suspect

Man intervenes after witnessing robbery, fatally shoots suspect

An attempted robbery at a Knoxville, Tennessee, gas station early Monday morning was foiled when an armed citizen witnessed the attack and decided to intervene.

The man, whose name has not been released, was sitting in his vehicle that was parked outside of the Bread Box around 2:35 a.m. while his friend was working as a clerk inside the store. The man noticed the suspect walk into the store while carrying what was later determined to be a 9mm handgun. Upon seeing this, the friend grabbed his own gun, also a 9mm, and followed the suspect inside, according to a release by the Knoxville Police Department.

As the friend entered the store, the suspect was forcing the female clerk behind the counter, but the friend fired a single shot at the would-be robber and struck him a single time.

When police arrived a few minutes later, the suspect was pronounced dead. He was later identified as 18-year-old Tamon J. Stapleton.

The gun used in the attempted robbery was recovered at the scene and police discovered the serial numbers had been scratched off, likely indicating that the firearm was stolen. Authorities are now working to determine the origin of the gun.

guns.com