A customer with a concealed carry gun permit held an armed robbery suspect at bay after an incident June 20 at Dollar General off Salisbury Road in Mocksville.

Derrick Jewone Blackwell Jr., 20, of Mocksville, was charged with armed robbery, kidnapping and multiple counts of assault with deadly weapon.

Video surveillance shows Blackwell entering the store at about 2:20 p.m. He made his way to the back where he produced a knife and held the store manager and another employee hostage, said Mocksville Police Lt. Det. P.A. Reagan. The suspect demanded money, and repeatedly put the knife to the neck of the manager.

He led the employees to the front, passing by a customer who was shopping. When the three arrived at the cash registers, the manager opened the cash drawer and handed the money to the suspect, who was still wielding the knife. When he turned to leave, the suspect was surprised by that same customer, who was standing between him and the exit with his licensed handgun drawn and pointed right at him, Reagan said. All of the stolen money and items went flying. The suspect went to the floor.

While employees were calling 911, the suspect got up and ran down one of the aisles, with the customer running behind him. Blackwell made it outside, and after a brief chase and hunt by Mocksville police and the Davie County Sheriff’s Department, was apprehended.

Police Chief Todd Penley praised the customer.

“The actions of this individual ultimately prevented additional injury and loss of property,” Penley said. “The Mocksville Police Department supports all our legal concealed weapon holders and appreciates their eagerness, but we caution everyone to make sure they consider their safety before taking any actions.”