venice

Caught on Camera: Venice Store Owner Fights Off Would-Be Robber

A Venice store owner fought off an armed would-be robber in Monday in a rumble caught on camera.

The suspected robber, hiding beneath a black hoodie, walked into Simon's Market on Lincoln Boulevard just before 8 p.m. Monday night, pointing a handgun at the cashier and then at the owner.

As the cashier hurried to empty the cash drawer, the owner rushed up behind the gunman and began wrestling with him over the weapon.

Fortunately, the weapon didn't go off but the violent struggle spilled outside onto the sidewalk.

At one point during the scuffle, the suspect reached into the pocket of his hoodie and pulled out a second gun - holding a gun in each hand - before finally running away.

The store owner Simon Mellor said he apologized to his employee, Cameron Parsons, but he did what he felt he had to do.

"I just said, 'I'm really sorry if I put you in danger by doing that. I'm really sorry,'" Mellor said. "I felt he was in better hands with me taking the gun away than him having it pointed at him. It's not the wisest choice; I don't advise it. But he came in asking for altercation and that's what he got."

The Los Angeles Police Department's Pacific Division said the man hasn't been identified.

Mellor is hoping the release of the surveillance tracks the man down.

Police are asking anyone who spots the man to call 1-800-222-tips.

Police also advised against trying to take a gun away from a robber.

The owner of this store said he'd do it again -- meanwhile, he promised to train his employees to be prepared.

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