While working in the store – but not behind the counter – an armed robber entered the store and shoved a gun in Wertz’s face. Though Circle K’s official policy is that employees do not chase or provoke robbers, but simply give them what they ask for, Wertz says she felt like she had just had enough of being a sitting duck.
“He pointed the gun at my face, I grabbed my gun from my pocket, I cocked it and I shot,” she explains. (Related: Read more about citizens defending themselves and their property at SecondAmendment.news)
The suspect, 23-year-old Ferron Mendez, was shot in the torso, but police say he is expected to recover from his injuries, and will be charged as soon as he is released from the hospital. He has no prior arrest record in the state of New Mexico. (Related: Arrogant government believes citizens should have no right to self-defense or need for self-reliance.)
American Rifleman reported on what happened after the incident:
It would be a fairy tale ending—with law enforcement telling the station she faces no charges and the alleged perpetrator expected to recover and face charges—but, Wertz was on the clock for a convenience store chain with a strict employee firearms policy. She was immediately suspended for two weeks. KRQE news reports she’s now been fired.
Since Wertz has a family to support and very limited savings, her mother has started a GoFundMe page to help the family stay afloat. Although they were only hoping to raise $20,000, to date a sympathetic public has already donated $74,960.
Wertz told KRQE News that she has been stunned by the kindness of strangers.
“I am just excited about that because it’s going to give me a chance to be able to focus on my mental state…make sure that I am okay and then, of course, legal funds which are going to come up of course,” she said.
We wish her and her little family all the best.
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