Video footage shows the moment when Two ski mask-clad would-be thieves who attempted to grab a tip jar were stopped by the owner of Smokestrom Smoke Shop in Las Vegas, who grabbed a knife and stabbed one of them seven times after the individual jumped over the counter.
On Wednesday, August 3 at around 3.25 pm, Johnny Nguyen, the owner of Smokestrom Smoke Shop in Las Vegas, was astonished by two bold crooks who made an attempt to rob him in broad daylight. The 23-year-old claimed that when the two men wearing black ski masks entered his shop and attempted to seize the tip jar, he “feared for his life.”
He asserts that he politely asked the men to leave before resorting to self-defense and stabbing the unnamed attacker at least seven times with a knife that was kept close to the register.
Nguyen asked the men why they were wearing the masks.
“I was scared for my life. When they came in, one of them had a bag in front of him like he had a firearm or something,” Nguyen said.
One of the criminals is captured on store security footage taking a tip jar. Nguyen said that the tip jar swiping wasn’t that big of a deal, but it crossed the line when the other suspect hopped the counter and attempted to steal more goods.
“I asked them first nicely to leave, but the guy took my tip jar, which was fine. When they came back and tried to take some more, that’s when it escalated.” Nguyen explained that everything happened so quickly. “I didn’t have much time to think. I grabbed my knife right next to the register.”
One of the suspects was shown on camera hopping over the counter and attempting to grab something off the shelf before the shop owner, who was terrified, grabbed the three-inch blade and stabbed him.
The suspect, who was only given the age of 17 by investigators, was stabbed seven times by the small-business owner between his back, leg, and shoulders.
Following the last stab wound to the suspect’s back, Nguyen claims he stopped and called for help when the would-be robber screamed: “Stop, please! I’m dead! I’m dead” and begged him saying: “Please don’t let me die.”
Nguyen added, “He said he was sorry. By that point, he took off his mask himself. I was trying to get on the phone with the police when he was trying to talk to me.
“I just ran and wanted to make sure the police and ambulance would get here on time.”
However, there are three suspects overall, as the attacker who jumped the counter was being stabbed. The other attacker who was inside the store and the third suspect who was waiting outside left the scene.
Although Nguyen indicated that when someone decides to become involved with anything like a robbery, they’re “taking a risk” that can result in such events, he mentioned that the juvenile suspect kept repeating the heist “wasn’t my idea” as they were waiting for an ambulance.
“I don’t think he planned on getting stabbed that day, obviously, but if you try robbing a store, you are taking a risk. This is a small business, obviously,” he said.
The juvenile suspect’s present health and any potential accusations against him have not been disclosed by the authorities. In connection with the event, a second young person was also detained, but the third suspect is still on the loose.
Nguyen claims he has no desire to become a victim in the wake of the blatant robbery attempt and that he will soon purchase a gun to put in the business.
“I don’t know who they’re friends with, maybe they want to come back and do something else, so I just must stay vigilant,” Nguyen said.
Watch it here: Youtube/FOX5 News Las Vegas
Sources: Dailywire, Fox5vegas, Walb
