Police: Store employee shoots and kills robber

DECATUR, Ga. — Decatur police have responded to a fatal shooting at the Smoke Shop on Snapfinger Road.

DeKalb County police say two men came into the Smoke Shop around 1 p.m. and put the barrel of a shotgun to the neck of the store clerk.

Police say the employee grabbed the barrel of the shotgun and pulled out his gun.

The store employee fired several rounds, striking one of the two robbers.

According to police, one robbery suspect died at the Smoke Shop, while the other suspect fled in a white SUV.

Police arrested the second suspect three hours after they say his dad convinced him to turn himself in.

Detectives are not releasing his identity, because they want to put him in a photo lineup.

DeKalb County police say the same two armed robbers tried to rob another business less than a mile away from the Smoke Shop.

Michael Graham says he's a frequent customer and knows the employees. He told Channel 2's Liz Artz he thinks highly of the Smoke Shop's staff.

"It's just a friendly atmosphere," Graham said.

Detectives are in the early stages of their investigation, but they say right now they don't anticipate charging the store clerk.

WSBTV