Tables turned on armed robber who tried to hold up an Iraq war veteran: Thief stares down the barrel of quick thinking victim's gun after trying to steal from a store

Thief demanded money at gunpoint in a store in Marionville, Missouri

But war ve teran store clerk reacted quickly, and pulled out his own firearm

Within seconds he had his weapon in the thief's mouth and was in control

The attacker slowly backed off as the clerk followed him with his handgun



A thief who pulled a gun on a store cashier left with his tail between his legs when the clerk - an Iraq War veteran - reacted quickly using his years of training.

Jon Lewis Alexander, 54, had a gun pulled on him while at work, but within a split second he'd pulled out his own firearm and had it inside the thief's mouth.

The tense exchange took place in a store in Marionville, Missouri, and was caught on CCTV.

Taught a lesson: This thief got a shock when the war vet store clerk he pulled a gun on, quickly responded by forcing his own firearm into the attacker's mouth

Police said Mr Alexander had a lucky escape, but speaking to The Blaze , the store clerk said he told the police 'I think (the robber) is a little luckier than I am.'

After 30 years of service in the U.S. military, Mr Alexander has certainly had more than his fair share of dealing with unpredictable and violent situations, as well as knowing how to handle a firearm.

He has served four tours in Iraq and has worked as a prison guard and private investigator.

The failed robbery took place on Saturday night. The thief is seen sauntering into the store smoking a cigarette, which Mr Alexander promptly asks the man to put out.

The thief then quickly reaches for his gun while demanding all the money in the til.

But the clerk's training and instinct took over, and he grabbed his own Walther PPX 9 mm handgun from his back pocket while blocking the thief's aim with his other hand.

Tense: The exchange took place on Saturday night when the thief walked in smoking a cigarette. He was promptly told to put it out by Mr Alexander



He told the news service he threatened to blow the thief's head off. At which point the man backed out of the shop.

He said he didn't fire his weapon because the thief's gun was never pointed directly at him, threatening his life.

Store owners Max and Jeannie Dawson, who have provided police and the news service with the CCTV footage, said they fully support Mr Alexander's handling of the situation.

The clerk's wife was initially horrified at hearing what had happened while her husband was at work, but after seeing the footage, she eventually calmed down.



'It took her a while to calm down,' he said. 'But I got all kinds of lovin’ when she came home,' he told The Blaze.



Quick reactions: Mr Alexander immediately jumped into action, controlling where the thief pointed his firearm while grabbing his own handgun from his back pocket

Control: The clerk points hidden gun directly at the thief who has demanded all the money from the til. Mr Alexander said he would 'blow his head off'