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WEBVTT TARGET 7'S MEGAN CRUZJUST SPOKE WITH THE CLERK ABOUTTWO HOURS AGO.SHE JOINS US LIVE WITH HERINTERVIEW.MEGAN: DOUG AND SHELLY, JENNIFERWERTZ SAYS SHE UPSET.rtSHE CLAIMS ROBBERIES HAPPEN HEREALL THE TIME, AND GET EMPLOYEESARE TOLD THEY CANNOT DEFENDTHEMSELVES.SHE SAID SHE BROUGHT HER GOINGTOrt WORK BECAUSE SHE WAS SUPPOSEDTO WORK IUNTIL 10:00 P.M.AND SHE FEELS UNCOMFORTABLEWALKING TO HER CAR AT NIGHT.SHE PUT HER GUN IN HER POCKETYESTERDArtY AFTERNOON, AFTER SHEHEARD THAT ANOTHER NEARBYCONVENIENCE STORE WAS JUSTROBBED.SHE SAYS SHE WAS NOT BEHIND THECOUNTER WHEN A MAN BARGED INWITH A GUNrt>> WE ARE NOT TO CHASE.WE ARE NOT TO PROVOKE.WE STAND THERE AND THEY LEAVE.I AM SrtICK AND TIRED OF BEING ASITTING DUCK.I SHOT.MEGAN: POLICE THISrt AFTERNOONRELEASED THE SUSPECT'S NAME.THEY SAY 23-YEAR-OLD FERRONMENDEZ WAS SHOT IN THE TORSO,BUT IS EXPECTED TO SURVIVE.ONCE HE'S RELEASED FROM THEHOSPITAL, APD SAYS THEY'LLCHARGE HIM.rtI SHOULD NOTE IT APPEARS HE DOESNOT HAVE PRIO ARRESTS IN THESTATE.

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The Circle K clerk who shot an accused armed robber, says she was suspended for two weeks. The shooting happened Monday inside the store on Eubank and Candelaria.Target 7 reporter Megan Cruz spoke with the clerk Tuesday afternoon. Jennifer Wertz said she’s upset. She claims robberies happen all the time and yet workers are told they can't defend themselves.Wertz said she had her gun with her Monday because she was supposed to work until 10 p.m. She said she feels uncomfortable walking to her car at night.Wertz put her gun in her pocket after she heard that another nearby convenience store was just robbed. She said she was not behind the counter when a man barged in with a gun.“We are not to chase or provoke. We are just supposed to stand there and give them what they want and they leave,” she said.“So why didn't you do that yesterday?” Cruz asked.“I'm sick and tired of being a sitting duck,” Wertz said. “He pointed the gun at my face, I grabbed my gun from my pocket, I cocked it and I shot.”Police released the suspect’s name Tuesday afternoon. They said 23-year-old Ferron Mendez was shot in the torso, but is expected to survive. The APD said it will charge him once he's released from the hospital.It appears he does not have prior arrests in New Mexico.KOAT reached out to Circle K management about the incident, but they declined to comment.Related content: Surveillance video shows aftermath of Circle K shooting:Circle K clerk shoots alleged armed robber: