A retail worker in Eugene, Oregon was in fear for his life when he drew his gun and opened fire on a would-be robber, according to local police.
The shooting happened at a Duck-N-Go convenience store last Sunday afternoon around 5 p.m., when a man walked in and demanded money from the clerk at gunpoint.
As it turns out, the robber wasn’t the only person in the store who was armed. The clerk drew his own pistol and fired at least one round, striking the would-be robber. The clerk then called 911 and held the suspect, later identified as 21-year-old Noah Alexander Sky, at gunpoint until police arrived on the scene.
He was transported to a local hospital with non-life threatening injuries. He was then discharged and taken to Lane County Jail where he’s facing a second-degree robbery charge.
According to [Eugene Police Public Information Officer Melinda] McLaughlin, no other pending charges are anticipated in this case, as Oregon law states: deadly force is authorized if the actions of another person reasonably places you in fear of serious physical injury or death to you or a third party.
According to the CDC, gas station and convenience store workers face a higher risk of workplace violence than many other professions. While the CDC offers several tips for workers to stay safe on the clock, there’s one bit of advice that’s glaringly absent:
- Be alert!
- Know where all the exits, alarms, and call buttons are, and where to find emergency information.
- Watch for signals that may show violence is about to happen.
- Avoid acting in a manner that could be perceived as aggressive, as it may cause anger to rise.
Those are all reasonable suggestions, but let’s face it; even if workers follow every one of those tips they could still find themselves with a gun or a knife stuck in their face. Earlier this month, for instance, an 18-year-old working an overnight shift at a 7-11 in Oklahoma City was stabbed to death, with police arresting a 23-year-old suspect just a few days later.
Under Oklahoma law, the clerk was too young to legally carry a firearm, on or off the clock. Even though Oklahoma is a Constitutional Carry state, gun owners must be 21 before they can lawfully carry, with or without a permit. Many convenience store chains also prohibit employees from possessing a gun on the job regardless of their age, forcing employees to choose between keeping their job or protecting their life.
I don’t know what Duck-N-Go’s policy is, but an earlier report on the defensive gun use stated it was the store owner, not a clerk, who drew their gun and fired in self-defense. I doubt the owner is going to fire himself, and if there was a “no-guns on the job” policy for other employees I would hope that last weekend’s robbery attempt would convince the owner to change their mind.
Working behind the counter at a convenience store can be a dangerous profession. It’s reasonable to want to have a firearm with you for protection. If you never have to use it, great. But no employee should be rendered defenseless when they’re at risk of robbery or murder once they clock in for their shift.
