A Florida store owner thwarted an armed robbery of another business earlier this month when he interrupted the brazen heist and held one of the suspects at gunpoint until police arrived, WPLG-TV reports.

According to police reports obtained by the television station, two men approached a Family Dollar in Fort Lauderdale around 10 p.m. on September 13 as staff were closing.

One of the suspects, 20-year-old Nicolas Richard Lee Deas, told an employee that he had left his phone in the store and asked to run inside to grab it.

When the employee allowed Deas and the other man into the store, the pair allegedly began the robbery.

“Give me the money, or I will kill you,” Deas allegedly told the employee, according to police records obtained by WPLG-TV.

Complying with the demand, the employee walked the Deas and the other man to a safe, where the robbers took $1,200 in cash. Deas then allegedly pistol-whipped the worker on their neck and elbow.

As this was happening, a man who owns an adjacent store heard the commotion and went into the Family Dollar also armed with a gun. The store owner told Deas to discard his weapon and drop to the floor.

Deas followed the directive, but the other suspect fled. The store owner held Deas at gunpoint until police officers responded to the scene.

Police arrested Deas, who is now facing charges of armed robbery, aggravated assault with intent to commit a felony, aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, grand theft of a firearm and illegally carrying a concealed firearm, according to jail records reviewed by CrimeOnline. He is being held without bond.

The other suspect who fled the store has not been identified. It was not immediately clear whether he has been arrested.

To report information about the incident or the people involved, call Broward Crime Stoppers at 954-493-8477.

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