CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- A convenience store clerk shot a robber three times. The store manager said the shooting sends a message to thieves to stay out.

Business is back to normal at a BP station on Ashley Road near Interstate 85 in west Charlotte after an early morning robbery attempt.

Store manager Rebecca Williamson is hoping that what happened early Monday morning sends a loud message out to criminals.

"It's 2005. People are not playing around anymore. There's a lot of stores getting robbed around here and there's a lot of people taking action," said Williamson.

According to police, just before 3 a.m. Monday morning, two men with guns came into rob Williamson's store.

Police said seconds after getting cash and a cell phone from an employee, the employee pulled a gun of his own. He shot one of the suspects three times. Then, the clerk jumped into the robbers' getaway car and tried chasing down the second gunman who took off running.

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VIDEO: Police Investigate Clerk Shooting At Attempted Robbers

Customer Tommie Martin is glad the clerk took action.

"You run into a store and rob it. Ain't no guarantee it's going to go your way," said Martin.

Many of the employees in the Ashley Road BP store have concealed weapons permits and bring their guns to work each shift.

"I feel more comfortable knowing I work with people with them," said Williamson.

Williamson just got a gun license and after this morning's robbery, she said she's now going to be getting a concealed weapons permit so she can start carrying a gun at work.

The National Association of Convenience Stores recommends against clerks with guns.

The group said clerks should not resist a robber because that could lead to violence.

They said many times workers aren't trained properly on how to use guns.