Morganton, North Carolina

From the Morganton News Herald of February 13, 2007

Thwarted Thief

Clerk Pulls Gun On Would-Be Robber At Morganton Convenience Store

A pistol-wielding clerk told police she she chased away a robber Monday night.

Officers would not release her name Tuesday.

Burke County Sheriff's Detective Rodney Norman says a man came into the Shop and Save on N.C. 18 North about 10:30 p.m. Monday and asked the 34-year old female clerk if she was alone.

Norman says the clerk had noticed the man around the store earlier in the evening, and thought something was amiss.

He says the clerk told police the man slid her a note across the counter that said "Give me the money from the drawer or you're dead."

The clerk told the man she couldn't read English, Norman says.

She told the detective the man then got angry and pounded on the register until it opened.

Norman says the clerk pushed the register drawer closed before the man could get any money from it.

She then pulled a small silver handgun from under the counter, Norman says. The man ran from the store when he saw her cocking the weapon, the detective says.

The clerk had pushed a button that automatically calls police, Norman says. He says she did that after the man in the store asked her if she was alone.