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Midland man wrestles off armed robber at convenience store

A Midland couple is still shaken up tonight after they encountered  an armed robber at a convenience store. The man was able to disarm the robber before he ran.

MIDLAND, TX (KWES) - A Midland couple is still shaken up tonight after they encountered  an armed robber at a convenience store. The man was able to disarm the robber before he ran.

Michael Cowley, the man approached by the masked robber said he doesn't even know how long the altercation lasted. Cowley said when he saw the masked robber alone inside the convenience store, he thought the clerk was dead.

No was one was hurt Monday evening when Cowley and his wife made a quick stop at the 7-eleven off Loop 250 and A St. in Midland.

Cowley said he was ready to check out but couldn't find a cashier.

"Very shortly after that I looked to my right and I noticed that there was a person coming from a back room wearing a hoodie, some sunglasses and kind of a mask on the bottom part of his face," said Cowley.

At first Cowley thought the man was wearing a costume, that's until he saw the masked suspect was armed. The suspect demanded money, Cowley said he told him he was going to comply.

"My whole thought process was, I need to grab that gun with both of my hands and I need to be able to grab the stock and the barrel to be able to control it and make sure it doesn't get pointed at me," said Cowley.

That's exactly what Cowley said happened next and was able to wrestle the firearm away. Midland police are searching for a black male, about 6 feet tall, with a slim build in connection to this incident. The suspect was last seen running east from this 7-eleven.

Cowley said he hopes his story shows others you don't always have to be a victim but to be careful in any situation like this.

"I've had just a ton of support from family and friends and it feels really good. It's a pretty traumatic situation," said Cowley.

Midland police were not able to release surveillance footage from the convenience store but say they hope to do so soon.

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