Photo courtesy of the Roanoke Police Department

Roanoke police released this security camera image of an attempted robbery at the Sky Mart convenience store in the 3900 block of Melrose Avenue Northwest on March 13.

The two men saunter into the convenience store, and then one, with what appears to be a black bandana over his face, pulls a gun from behind his back and waves it toward a woman working at the cash register.

A few seconds later, store owner Anil Jariwala appears in the corner of the security camera's frame with his own gun, racing toward the armed robber.

The surprised thugs knock into each other before fumbling with the door and fleeing in opposite directions.

Roanoke police on Friday released video of the March 13 attempted robbery at Sky Mart in the 3900 block of Melrose Avenue Northwest. They hope someone will recognize the robbers and phone in the tip.

Jariwala, 32, said he bought the .38-caliber revolver a few weeks ago to protect his store, which he's owned since November. He had experience handling firearms in India and was jolted into action when he heard his wife scream his name from the cash register. Jariwala was in his office and saw the robbers stroll into the store on a security monitor.

He grabbed his pistol and charged.

"Stop it! Stop it! Don't shoot," he yelled to the robbers.

The robbers, considerably larger than Jariwala, turned tail.

Jariwala took aim as the robbers raced for the door.

"I was surprised," Jariwala said. "They have a gun, and they just ran off like this."

No shots were fired. Jariwala's wife wasn't hurt.

Police are asking for the public's help to identify the suspects. The same men also may have tried to rob Esquisito Pizza in the 2600 block of Peters Creek Road less than a half-hour before the stickup at Sky Mart, police said.

Anyone with information is asked to call police at 853-5959 or Crime Line at 344-8500.