A Tennessee man was arrested after having a gun pulled on him while allegedly attempting to rob the store at least three times, including one attempt involving a 5-foot snake.
The first incident occurred around 2 a.m. Monday, when the suspect, Reginald Cook, 26, tried to rob a Shell convenience store in the Memphis area on Elvis Presley Boulevard while indicating he had a weapon, according to a report citing an affidavit.
Demanding money, Cook returned a second time and continuously reached into his clothing but eventually left the location again when the victim refused, the report noted.
Cook made a third attempt at the store around 3:05 a.m.
The suspect appeared to be far more manic in this final attempt, shouting “Give me the damn money!” and wearing a 5-foot snake around his neck, the affidavit reports.
When Cook made a move to pull something from his backpack, the victim brandished his own firearm in self-defense and called 911.
Police responded to the scene and arrested Cook, who had a railroad spike and rock inside his backpack, according to the report.
He is facing two counts of attempted aggravated robbery, and his bond was set to $4,000.
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Cook’s family went to the Shell on Tuesday to apologize and offer to pay for any damages, according to the report.
The robbery attempt comes as lawmakers in California and Florida have announced they are finding new ways to combat theft as thieves have become more brazen in their attempts against retailers.
