Esthen Exchange|Video shows man trying to rob California store with fake gun, then clerk pulls out real one

2025-05-08 03:27:22source:Quentin Mitchellcategory:My

An Orange County,Esthen Exchange California liquor store owner called an failed robber's bluff Wednesday night when he noticed their handgun looked fake.

But Jacko Sadek, who had been working a night shift at his Fountain Valley shop, had a real handgun behind his shelf. The 45-year-old pointed the weapon at the suspect who quickly ran out of the building, surveillance video showed.

"My cousin was about to get in the store so we run up to the guy and he jumps in the car and he left," Sadek told USA TODAY.

Watch the owner scare of the would-be robber.

Sadek said he was behind the counter when a man wearing all black approached him with what appeared to be a gun and started demanding for money. The suspect told Sadek "don't play games."

Initially cooperating until he was about two feet away from the suspect, Sadek said he realized the gun looked fake and decided to go for his weapon. Sadek said there was a driver in the car who helped the suspect leave the scene. He added that the manner in which the suspect held the gun with his left hand looked fake.

Sadek said about a year and a half ago he was robbed at gunpoint by a team of three robbers. The three dashed into the store and one stood in the counter next to him, one next to a cabinet and the last one by the store doors. They eventually left when they noticed Sadek reaching for a button that alerts authorities.

Fountain Valley police told the store owner Wednesday night that they would run DNA tests using the suspect's handprints on the counter, according to Sadek.

See also:IRS agent fatally shot during routine training in Phoenix

"[Police officer] was hoping to get any DNA out of him because they might get lucky with it," Sadek said.

USA TODAY has reached out the Fountain Valley Police Department for additional information.

More:My

Recommend

Military service academies see drop in reported sexual assaults after alarming surge

WASHINGTON (AP) — Reported sexual assaults at the U.S. military service academies dropped in 2024 fo

Russell Crowe Calls Out Dakota Johnson's Criticism of Her Madame Web Experience

Russell Crowe is caught up in a Madame Web debate.The Gladiator actor—who for his part has starred i

More than 171K patients traveled out-of-state for abortions in 2023, new data shows

More than 171,000 patients traveled out-of-state to receive abortion care last year, according to ne