Dramatic moment California liquor store owner blasts rifle-toting robber with a shotgun

This is the incredible moment a robber armed with an AR-15 fled screaming from a California liquor store after the 80-year-old owner blasted him with his shotgun.

Craig Cope opened fire after the 23-year-old armed intruder entered his shop in Norco in the early hours of Sunday. 

Four suspects armed with guns were waiting outside, planning to rob the store while wearing facial coverings, according to the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department. 

But security camera footage shows cope reaching for his shotgun and firing straight into the approaching robber.

The man screamed out after being hit in the shoulder and ran from the store.

‘He shot my arm off! He shot my arm off!’ the man can be heard shouting as he runs back to a black BMW SUV.

The man screams out as he’s hit in the shoulder, fleeing the store and shouting: ‘He shot my arm off! He shot my arm off!’

Hitting the accelerator, the driver almost left one of the accomplices behind – having to stop so the last hooded assailant could jump into the vehicle.

Back in the store, Cope had just suffered a heart attack, having to be rushed to hospital after the shock of the incident.

‘He was on his toes, thank god,’ said store employee Marnie Tapia, speaking with ABC7. ‘He just prepared himself. He’s always prepared as far as weapons go.’

The suspects are now in custody after police found them in hospital, identifying them from the gunshot wound.

Business owner Craig suffered a heart attack, having to be rushed to hospital after the shock of the attack

Hitting the accelerator, the driver almost leaves one of the accomplices behind – having to stop so the last hooded assailant can jump into the vehicle before they escape. The suspects are now in custody after police found them in hospital, identifying them from the gunshot wound

Three of the suspects were found inside the suspect vehicle, which authorities say was reported stolen.

Police identified them as 22-year-old Inglewood resident Justin Johnson, 27-year-old Los Angeles resident Jamar Williams and 24-year-old Las Vegas resident Davon Broadus. 

The man who was shot is in critical but stable condition. He remains unnamed.

‘In this case, a lawfully armed member of our community prevented a violent crime and ensured their own safety while being confronted with multiple armed suspect,’ the sheriff’s department said.