GWINNETT COUNTY -- It was a case of the tattoo needle was mightier than the sword; or at least the knife.

Two tattoo artists wrestled an armed robbery suspect to the ground and held him until police arrived.

Police say the incident started when Jonni Rodrigo Perez walked into the La Unica Beauty Salon #2 on Jimmy Carter Boulevard on Tuesday and asked to have his hair colored.

Stylist Eugenia Navarro says she told Perez the shop was getting ready to close.

Navarro tells police that's when Perez pulled a knife on her and demanded cash.

Navarro's 8-year old son and two daughters, 10-years old and five-years old, were also in the shop. When they saw their mother being held up they started screaming.

Next door at the Flesh Tattoo Shop artists Thomas Payne and Adam Cosy heard the screams and came running.

They tell police they met Perez at the door of the beauty parlor and wrestled him to the ground.

Police arrived minutes later and arrested Perez on one count of armed robbery, two counts of aggravated assault and three counts of cruelty to children.

He is being held at the Gwinnett County Detention Center without bond.