Due diligence is such an important business practice, from corporate mergers, all the way down to robbing a Beer:30 Liquor Store. If the bandit has done his due diligence; he would have realized that the clerk working the night shift was an ex-military police officer that has extensive training. Fail.

All the action was caught on CCTV, and I believe that we can actually see the exact moment that the thief requires his underwear to be changed.

Springfield News-Leader reports that the clerk was a veteran of four tours in Iraq. A 30-year military man. A former prison guard, private investigator, professional extraditor of federal prisoners and — most important on this particular Sunday night — a proud owner of a Walther PPX 9 mm handgun.

Loaded, with one in the chamber, like he always carries it.

Jon Lewis Alexander, 54, of Marionville, MO., thwarted a robbery about 9 p.m. Sunday at Beer:30 on East Logan Street in Marionville — after the would-be robber pulled his weapon first.



As a store security video shows, Alexander used his left hand to push the robber’s handgun back while — in a smooth but rapid motion — pulling and swinging his 9 mm into the robber’s face. The man’s mouth to be exact, as the robber haplessly holds his own weapon at his side.

“One of the policemen told me later, ‘You’re a lucky man,’ ” Alexander said Monday. “I said, ‘I think he (the robber) is a little luckier than I am.’ ”

The man came in the store smoking a cigarette, and Alexander said he quickly explained that was against the rules. Within seconds, the man in a gray T-shirt was at the counter, demanding “all the (expletive deleted) money.”

In less than three seconds, as Alexander threw out a couple of expletives of his own and threatened to “blow his (expletive deleted) head off,” the man is seen in the video backing away, his own firearm still at his side.

“He didn’t even bother holstering his weapon” as he quickly left the store, Alexander said.