Clerk shoots would-be robber in head

BATTLE CREEK, Mich. (WOOD) - A Battle Creek convenience store clerk shot a would-be robber in the head Monday afternoon.

The clerk acted in self-defense, Liberty Mart Convenience Store owners told 24 Hour News 8, and pulled the trigger because he feared for his life.

The 28-year-old suspect -- Michael Shawn Honyoust -- was taken to Bronson Methodist Hospital in Kalamazoo and had surgery. He is in still critical condition as of Tuesday afternoon.

No one else in the store was hurt.

Owners of the store at 439 Capital Ave. NE said the clerk in question is their brother. They said he is a little shaken up by what happened, but is otherwise okay.

Battle Creek police said the suspect entered the store around 2:45 p.m., brandished a knife at the clerk and demanded money.

The owners said their brother, 39-year-old Pardeep Singh, was working behind the counter at the time and tried to give the suspect what he wanted.

"He said, 'I need money,'" owner Happy Singh recounted for 24 Hour News 8. "I have a gun or knife."

Pardeep Singh tried to calm Honyoust, telling him it was OK and that there was no problem, Happy Singh said.

"But then he started around and started to attack, so I don't know what he was thinking," Happy said.

Honyoust began acting irrationally, according to Happy. Honyoust was aggressive and started running toward the entrance of the counter as if he were going to go back into the register area.

"He tried to run around and he had a knife and he tried to attack," said Happy.

That is when Pardeep pulled his gun and shot at Honyoust, striking him at least once in the head.

The Singhs said nothing like this had ever happened at their store. They said they have gotten to know most of their loyal customers.

"Almost 14, 15 years here, and never a problem because everybody knows each other. It's like family members," Happy said.

There are security cameras in the store and the Singhs say police are reviewing the tapes. Once the investigation is complete, it will be given to the prosecutor's office for review.