SHELBY, N.C. — A North Carolina store owner defended his family and business Friday night when an armed robber tried to strike again, this time leaving with a gunshot wound to the foot instead of stolen cash.

The suspect, identified as Nixzon Eduardo Garcia-Carrillo, reportedly entered the Shelby store wielding what turned out to be a toy gun. The owner, who had been waiting in his parking lot armed and alert after a previous robbery three weeks earlier, didn’t hesitate when he saw the threat.

“I didn’t wait or nothing. I started shooting,” the store owner told local reporters.

During the earlier robbery, thieves made off with $86,000, leaving the family shaken and on edge. The co-owner, Suri Sarai Ake Pech, said the experience left them fearing another attack.

“It was terrifying moments for me and my family,” she said.

After being shot, Garcia-Carrillo fled but was later caught by Cleveland County Sheriff’s deputies following a brief chase. Authorities confirmed he is a Honduran national with an active immigration removal order and now faces multiple charges, including attempted robbery with a dangerous weapon, fleeing to elude arrest, and resisting a public officer.

The store owner’s decisive action likely prevented a repeat of the earlier violent robbery. But the family’s ordeal isn’t over — another suspect remains on the loose, and they worry Garcia-Carrillo could evade justice if deported before trial.

This case highlights what many gun owners already know — when seconds count, the ability to defend yourself and your loved ones can make all the difference. The Shelby store owner acted lawfully, responsibly, and effectively in a situation no family should have to face twice.

When the government can’t protect you in time, the right to armed self-defense becomes more than a constitutional principle — it’s a lifeline. This Shelby store owner didn’t rely on luck or 911 response times; he relied on his own preparation and resolve. Incidents like this remind us why the Second Amendment exists — to ensure that law-abiding Americans have the means to defend their lives, families, and livelihoods when criminals strike.

Sept. 26, 2025: Three weeks after his Shelby, NC, store was robbed of $86,000, a store owner once again found his livelihood threatened by two armed robbers. This time, however, the store owner was also armed. He shot one suspect and sent both fleeing.https://t.co/0aDGyz6pFi

— Defensive Gun Use Tracker (@DailyDGU) October 6, 2025