MINUTES SAVED HIM, SAYS VICTIM

GREENSBORO - When Don Le locked the doors of his convenience store
Saturday night, someone was waiting for him.

Le was placing a bag in the passenger side of his car when the man
opened fire with a handgun in the parking lot of Andy's Pantry at
1301 Grove St .

One bullet lodged in the driver's side door of his car; another
shattered the window.

As the man walked toward him, Le returned fire with his own handgun,
which he carries when he closes the store.

Police said the attack may have been an attempted robbery. But Le
believes it may be connected to his cooperation with police and the
community to help rid the area of crime and drug dealing.

"We didn't think it was going to come to this," Le said.

Le was not hurt. The man ran away and police don't know whether he was injured.

Police said they don't have any leads in the shooting, and it is
unlikely that Le would be charged with any crimes.

"If it is how he described it, it would be a clear case of
self-defense," Lt. Brian James said.

"I can't say that Mr. Le is wrong for defending himself," James said.
"But I would suggest that if you have an opportunity to run away or
seek cover, I would suggest that rather than engaging them in a shootout."

Le said timing and the fact he was on the passenger side of the car
probably saved his life.

"Five seconds sooner I would have been locking the door to the
store," he said. "He probably would have got me."

It's not the first time this year an act of violence has taken place
at Andy's Pantry. Drameco Imes II, 20, was fatally shot outside the
store in October.

Saquan Shawn Musgrove , 22 , of 1823-A Merritt Drive , was arrested
and charged with first-degree murder shortly after Imes' death.

Saturday's attack was caught on camera, and Le said he'll be taking
additional precautions at his store, including hiring a security
guard to be there when the store closes at night.

Le, who has owned the store for 17 years, said the shooting has made
him think about relocating, but he is reluctant because the store has
a strong customer base in the neighborhood.

Police are in the neighborhood frequently, but there's only so much
they can do, Le said. "The police can't be here 24/7."

Police described the shooter as black, 20 to 25 years old, medium to
dark skin, and 5 feet 5 inches to 5 feet 7 inches tall. He had a
slender build and was wearing a black bomber jacket with orange
lining and a fur collar, black jeans and a black T-shirt. He had
white Nike Air Force One tennis shoes.

Police ask people with information to call Crimestoppers at 373-1000
. Le said he is offering a reward of $1,000 for information leading
to an arrest in the shooting.