Clerk Punches, Knocks Out Armed Robber

A clerk at a business in Western North Carolina punched a would-be robber and knocked him out cold just minutes after the man barged in with a gun and demanded money.

It happened about 15 minutes before closing time Friday night at We Buy Gold store in Hendersonville.

“When he came through the door he told me had a gun and he even flashed it," said Derek Mothershead. “I stood up and threw my hands up and said, 'Take the money.'”

Mothershead said the man came behind the counter with a bag.“I got the money and he had the bag out and instead of putting it in the bag I stuck it out and said, 'Just take it.'

So, when he reached out, I took a step in, I cocked back and preloaded and I hit him hard,” Mothershead told News 4's Mike McCormick.

The punch knocked out the would-be thief.

Mothershead was able to grab the man's weapon and realized it was a pellet gun.

“When I pulled it out of his waistband I started laughing,” said Mothershead. “I said, 'Man, you came in here with a fake gun?'"

Mothershead said he dragged the man over to a desk and held him down with one hand and called 911 with the other.

The man eventually regained consciousness.“He kind of begged me, begged me to let him go,” Mothershead said. “I said, 'You came in and tried to rob us. You’re going to jail.'

”While they waited for police and paramedics, Mothershead gave the man a roll of paper towels, sprayed the floor with cleaner and told him to clean up his own blood.

Police identify the would-be robber as Mostafa Kamel Hendi.

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