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On Thursday, a Newark store owner shot and wounded an armed man who entered her business, demanding cash.

(File photo )

NEWARK — For the second time this week, someone working at a city business fired a weapon in self-defense against armed robbery suspects, police said Friday.

Shortly before 8:30 p.m. Thursday two men burst into a variety story in the 400 block of Central Avenue, with one man ordering customers onto the floor and threatening to shoot if the owner did not give the pair money. One of the suspects, 23-year-old Durell Hearn, was wielding an AK-47 pistol and fired a warning shot, department spokesman Sgt. Ron Glover said.

The owner of the business, who was behind the counter, reached for a handgun she keeps in the store and fired a number of rounds at Hearn and the other man, Arthur Price, 50.

The woman, whose name was not released, struck Hearn in the leg as the two men fled the store. Hearn fired a shot as he fled but did not strike anyone, Glover said, adding that Hearn’s gun was later found on the sidewalk outside the store.

Price later told police he drove Hearn to University Hospital, where emergency room personnel contacted police when Price dropped off Hearn. Price’s silver Chevrolet Impala was stopped by hospital police, Glover said.

Both men have been charged with robbery, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, unlawful possession of a weapon and conspiracy. Hearn was listed in stable condition.

On Tuesday, the owner of a grocery store on Irvine Turner Boulevard shot and killed an armed man who entered the business, demanding cash. Neither he nor the woman in Thursday's incident face criminal charges, authorities said.

Paul Milo may be reached at pmilo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @PaulMilo2. Find NJ.com on Facebook.