A Brownsville man is behind bars after trying to rob a store where a clerk used a gun to defend himself.
Brownsville police arrested 24-year-old Santos Garcia Vela on two counts of aggravated robbery on Tuesday.
Investigators told Action 4 News that the a crime spree started with a beer run back on December 5th.
It was about 4 a.m. when Vela allegedly walked into a Stripes convenience store on the 1500 block of Palm Boulevard.
Police said he grabbed a case of beer, walked up to the clerk and demanded money.
Vela allegedly settled for a pack of cigarettes and the beer and made off on his bike.
A few hours later, Vela made a second beer run at the Grande Mart down the street.
But police said the store clerk shot in the air and towards Vela after being confronted with a knife.
Vela fled the scene but officers tracked him down at his home on West St. Charles Street and arrested him after a short foot pursuit.
Police said Vela had what appeared to be a gunshot wound to the leg but it's not clear if it’s from the shots fired by the store clerk.
Vela is charged with two counts of aggravated robbery for a bond of $150,000 dollars.
Police said the store clerk is licensed to carry a handgun and is not facing any charges at this time.
TV Station Profiles & Public Inspection Files forKGBT