SEE IT: Deli Clerk Wrestles Gun Away From Would-Be Robber In The Bronx
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- A deli clerk wrestled a gun away from a would-be robber Monday in the Bronx, and it was all caught on camera.
On Tuesday, that worker, 38-year-old Mina Farag, explained to CBS2's Clark Fouraker why he didn't give up. Though he admitted he was surprised by how he reacted, he just felt like he had to stop the perpetrator.
The video shows the struggle. A man police believe is in his 20s walks behind the counter of the Habibi Deli, which is located at the corner of Hoffman Street and 187th Street, with a gun and demands money.
"He showed me his gun and said, 'Give me money.' I tried to calm him down. I told him the money's right there. Once he tried to grab the money, I grabbed his hand with the gun with my two hands," Farag said.
The men are seen yelling and fighting. Other employees were in the store and other people came inside but quickly left, worried the gun might fire. In the tussle, the clerk suffered minor injuries to his face, CBS2's Fouraker reported.
"Nothing too dangerous, thank God. Nothing internal. Just a scratch here and that's about it," Farag said.
The clerk said the suspect looked suspicious when he initially entered the store. However, Farag said he never thought he'd be forced to wrestle a gun away.
"He was like going around the store. His bag was open. In the beginning I thought he was trying to take something from the store," Farag said.
After the struggle, the suspect eventually ran out of the building with no cash. Police said the man ran away southbound on Hoffman Street. He was wearing a black hooded sweatshirt and a black backpack.
People are asking the public to take a close look at the head shot from a surveillance camera, as they search for more information about the suspect.
Anyone with information is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the Crime Stoppers website or by texting their tips to 274637 (CRIMES) then enter TIP577. All calls are strictly confidential.
