Police: Restaurant owner shoots alleged armed robber

WEST PHILADELPHIA (WTXF) - Police are searching for a man who they say broke into a West Philadelphia Chinese restaurant and pulled a gun on the owner but the owner just happened to have a gun of his own.

It happened at a the Eagle's corner Chinese takeout at 62 nd and Spruce around 9:30 last night

In store surveillance video shows the alleged gunman surprised the owner of the store with a gun pointed at his back. He directs him over to the side while the alleged robber goes after cash in the register.

At the same time, the owner John Zong watches as the second suspect robs the cook in the back taking his money and his ring.

Outside cameras show the crooks climbing a fence to get away but you see the owner fire shots at them-- hitting one.

Turns out, the injured suspect is a long time customer of the store and allegedly denied involvement in the heist, according to Zong.

"People do have a right to bear arms. The owner was just protecting his family," said Philadelphia Police Lt. John Walker.

The owner says he's been robbed several times before but police call this particular case an isolated incident.