Clerk fired after pulling gun on armed robber

When a man with a knife threatened Shannon Cothran during his overnight shift at a gas station just one thing went through his mind.

“I just wanted to get home to my family, that’s it”

He did, but it cost him his job.

Shannon explained what happened to WBZ in Boston.

“He was very heavily masked and clothed. He came directly in and produced a knife and came around the corner and threatened my life.”

But Cothran had been worried about being robbed and was carrying a gun. When he pulled it out and pointed it at the bad guy who had a quick change of heart.

“He just said, alright, alright and backed off and made his way out the door,” Shannon said.

Despite having a permit to carry the pistol he was fired by Nouria Energy because having a weapon is against their company policy.

Police in Nashua, New Hampshire say Shannon was within his rights. “The clerk acted appropriately. He did fear for his life. He was in close proximity to a deadly weapon.”

But the company didn’t back off and Shannon leaves with no regrets “I would rather find a new job than either be in a hospital bed or in a coffin,” he finished.