HOLLAND, MI -- A customer at a Holland convenience store shot and wounded another man he tried to stop from assaulting the store clerk, the store owner says.

The shooting happened about 10:25 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 9 at Columbia Avenue One Stop, 405 Columbia Ave.

Store owner Jansen Le said a female clerk was on duty when a man described as the clerk's ex-boyfriend came inside and an altercation ensued.

The clerk, in a phone conversation with Le, told him the ex-boyfriend began beating her up. Soon after, another customer came into the store and witnessed the assault.

The customer tried to intervene, Le was told, and the other man then began to assault the customer. Le said the customer separated himself from the attacker and pulled out a gun.

Le said the customer warned the other person to stop.

"He didn't listen," Le said.

Holland Police early Friday said the 29-year-old attacker was shot twice by the 43-year-old customer. The customer had a legal handgun and also had a valid Concealed Pistol License, according to Holland Police. He cooperated with police in the follow-up investigation.

Police said the woman was 39 years old.

The attacker was first taken to Holland Hospital and later transferred to Spectrum Health Butterworth Hospital in critical condition, police said.

When police arrived at the store, the injured man was on the store floor but conscious, Le said.

Le said he believes the shooting was self-defense.

"The customer tried to help (the clerk) but he got beat up, too," he said.

Le said he did not believe the clerk and customer were seriously hurt.