Store clerk kills man during robbery attempt, cops say

A man who tried to rob a DeKalb County package store was killed Tuesday after the store clerk shot him at least three times, police said.

The shooting happened about 8 p.m. at Happy’s Package Store in the 4400 block of Rockbridge Road near Stone Mountain.

A man in a mask and black hooded sweatshirt jumped over the counter where the clerk was seated and demanded money at gunpoint, according to an incident report obtained by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

The clerk told police he stood and the man started firing at him.

The clerk took out a silver revolver and returned fire, according to the incident report.

The man ran out of the store. He was later found face down and unresponsive in a grassy area. He was still holding a black handgun in his left hand, according to the incident report.

The man was taken to Grady Memorial Hospital with gunshot wounds to each arm and the left upper side. He died at the hospital.

The clerk was not injured in the shooting, police said.

While officers did not release the dead man’s name, they told Channel 2 Action News he had an extensive criminal history.

Police also told Channel 2 the clerk was justified in firing shots and will not face charges.