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Clerk fights off robber with an assault rifle

Posted at 5:26 PM, Jan 07, 2016
and last updated 2016-01-07 17:26:44-05

Police in Port Huron are asking the public to help them catch a man who tried to rob a gas station with an assault rifle.

Police say the robber walked into the Marathon gas station store in the 1300 block of Military St. just past 10 p.m. Tuesday, holding a rifle.

Surveillance video shows him approaching the front counter and demanding money. The store clerk then grabbed the rifle from behind the counter. After a brief struggle, the suspect ran out of the store with the weapon.

Store owner Muaamar Alheyasi said in the five years he’s been in business, this is the first time someone has tried to rob the store. He said he’s glad his cousin was able to stop the suspect, but admits the situation could have ended very differently.

“I'm proud of him, yeah. And next time, you know, if that happens, just give the guy the money. Don’t argue with him, don’t do nothing," Alheyasi said.

Police say the suspect is a bearded white man in his 30s. He was wearing a black coat, black pants, and a fur-lined hat.

Anyone with information is asked to call Port Huron Police at 810-984-8415 or CAPTURE at 810-987-6688. A reward is being offered for information leading to an arrest.