The owner of a New Mexico convenience store dodged a bullet from a rifle-wielding armed robber over the weekend. The same can’t be said of the assailant.

In a press release, the New Mexico Department of Public Safety gave details of the attempted robbery which occurred shortly after noon on Saturday at the Pecos River Station convenience store near Las Vegas, N.M.

According to police, Zebadiah Romero entered the store carrying a .30-30 rifle. The 26-year-old demanded cash from store owner Glen Post and pointed the rifle at customers.

Post handed Romero the cash drawer, but during the course of the exchange, the suspect, who is currently on probation for another crime, fired a shot at Post.

The bullet missed the store owner, who was armed with his own gun. Post shot back, hitting Romero in the left thigh.

Romero dropped the cash register and fled the store. When police apprehended him later, he was still in possession of the .30-30 rifle. The car Romero had been driving was stolen from a Sante Fe car dealership.

Romero was transported to a hospital in Sante Fe where he was treated and released. He is currently in San Miguel County Detention Center where he has been charged with three counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, armed robbery and embezzlement of a stolen vehicle.

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