[LeaderBiz]

Teen fends off gun-wielding robber at shop
Sun, May 16, 2010
New Straits Times

BUTTERWORTH: A gutsy 17-year-old turned the tables on an armed robber who tried to flee with his motorcycle outside a mini-market in Bagan Ajam here yesterday. The drama unfolded when the secondary school student went to the mini-market to buy eggs. Sources said the teenager was about to leave the shop when the suspect came from behind and forced him to surrender his Yamaha 135LC motorcycle.

"The suspect then whipped out a revolver and threatened to shoot the victim if he refused to bow to his demand. "The youth pushed away the suspect's hand, causing him to fire a shot that hit the mini-market's glass door panel," said the source. The suspect, in his 40s, jumped onto a motorcycle belonging to another customer at the mini-market and tried to speed off.

"The youth gave chase and kicked the motorcycle, causing the suspect to fall," added the source. The source said the suspect fled on foot and members of the public, who were alerted by the gunshot, gave chase. The suspect ran towards Pantai Bersih beach and threw the revolver into the sea. However, he was apprehended by civilians.

A patrol car, which was passing the area, took the suspect away. The revolver was recovered by a police scuba team not far from the spot where he had discarded it. Seberang Prai Utara district police chief Assistant Commissioner Zulkifli Alias confirmed the case and said that the suspect had 15 convictions.