Defensive Gun Use: Fort Worth Vape Shop Clerk Shoots Armed Robber in Self-Defense

FORT WORTH, Texas — An attempted armed robbery at a southwest Fort Worth vape shop took a dramatic turn when a store employee pulled his own firearm and shot the suspect in self-defense. The violent encounter comes amid a string of robberies targeting local vape stores, including another incident caught on camera at a Vape City outlet.

Shooting at Artisan Vapor & CBD on Bryant Irvin Road

The shooting took place on February 13, 2025, at the Artisan Vapor & CBD shop located at 4821 Bryant Irvin Road. According to Fort Worth police and store records, two suspects walked into the business pretending to be customers. The employee behind the counter initially greeted them normally, but the interaction quickly escalated.

One of the suspects drew a handgun and pointed it directly at the clerk's head, demanding access to cash and high-value items, while the second suspect began filling a pillowcase with merchandise. The clerk, who was legally carrying a concealed firearm, seized a momentary distraction, drew his weapon, and fired at the armed robber.

The suspect was hit and fell to the ground, while his accomplice fled the scene on foot. Paramedics transported the wounded suspect to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Police confirmed the clerk acted in lawful self-defense and will not face charges.

Pattern of Vape Shop Heists Targets Fort Worth Retailers

The incident at Artisan Vapor & CBD is part of a broader pattern of armed robberies targeting specialty shops in Tarrant County. In another case, the Fort Worth Police Department released surveillance video of an armed robbery that occurred on April 30, 2024, at a Vape City store located at 6435 McCart Avenue.

In that video, a suspect waited for customers to leave before pulling out a semi-automatic handgun, racking the slide, and demanding cash and vape products from the clerk. Unlike the 2025 shooting incident, the employee complied, and the suspect fled into the surrounding neighborhood. Fort Worth police continue to investigate both cases and are asking merchants to remain highly vigilant.