Kirsten Murphy
Northern News Services

Iqaluit (Oct 08/01) - Jordan Bens won't easily forget Sept. 30. It was the night he stared at a sawed-off rifle pointed at his head and expected to die.

Happy to be alive. Corner Store employee Jordan Bens where he was robbed at gunpoint Sept. 30. Bens wrestled the armed robber and recovered the rifle. - Kirsten Murphy/NNSL photo

But he didn't. Instead, the 24-hour Corner Store employee yanked the gun from the masked intruder and wrestled him to the ground.

Bens' brazen reaction was a matter of self-defence, he said.

"He was close enough I could grab the gun," said the 20-year-old clerk, who returned to work the next day.

Bens' otherwise quiet Sunday turned traumatic when a masked gunman entered the city's only all-night convenience store before 11 p.m. -- an hour before Bens' shift was scheduled to end.

"He fired a shot into the ceiling and said, 'Give me all your money,' " Bens recalled.

The only customers were a young woman with a baby in an amauti.

Night shifts are composed of two employees. Ironically, Bens' co-worker had stepped out to attend a staff appreciation barbecue. Bens had made a similar exit earlier in the evening. Akpik returned moments after the robber had fled.

"I knew I was putting my life and the customers in jeopardy but I was thinking about protecting the baby. I'm not a hero," Bens insisted.

During the minute-long robbery, the intruder kept the rifle pointed at Bens' face.

"He told me not to answer the phone ... I thought I was going to die," Bens said.

An undisclosed sum of cash was handed over.

When the assailant came around the counter, Bens yanked the rifle free. A scuffle ensued and Bens ripped off the ski mask. The frightened customer fled with her baby.

The panicked gunman bolted with what police say was a "substantial" sum of money. The accused was caught hours later. Only a "small" sum of money was recovered.

The suspect cannot be named under the Young Offenders Act. He faces numerous charges this month, including armed robbery.

Store owner Gary Gee said surveillance for staff safety is being installed. The store's hours of operation will not change.

"We're not going to be intimidated just because we run a 24-hour store," Gee said. "If people want to come in and shop, fine. If you want to come and cause a disturbance, we'll make sure the RCMP deal with you."

The damaged ceiling is now in the hands of the RCMP.

Although Bens' brazen actions are arguably admirable, RCMP Staff Sgt. Mike Jeffrey advised people not to take the law into their own hands. Instead, Jeffrey suggested making a mental note of an assailant's physical characteristics.

Bens' father has suggested his son find other work.

"If they hadn't caught him (robber) I'd probably have quit. You know, get a job with the government," Bens said.