WEWS, Cleveland, Ohio 04/18/11, WJW, Cleveland, Ohio 04/17/11

Owner Nick Akoury was tending to the Neptune Corner Pet Store in Cleveland, Ohio, when two masked and armed robbers entered the store. The robbers pointed their guns at Akoury and ordered him to hand over the money in the cash register. As a customer fled to a back room to hide, one of the criminals followed, firing a shot through the door. As the robbers turned to flee with the cash, Akoury, a Right-to-Carry permit holder, drew a pistol. At the door, the robbers stopped and turned towards Akoury with their guns raised, at which point Akoury opened fire, striking one criminal four times and causing both to flee. Police located the pair a short time later when the wounded criminal was dropped off at a local hospital. The pet shop has often been the target of armed robberies, with the latest coming in December. A previous owner of the store closed the business after being robbed in 2006. Akoury says he will do no such thing, telling an employee, “no one’s going to run us out of this pet shop.”