This one's for you, Mr. Would-Be Hold-Up Man.

A worker threw a can of beer at a gunman Wednesday night, foiling a robbery at a city store.

Two men with bandannas over their faces attempted to rob the business with a shotgun but were apparently thwarted by an airborne can of beer, according to police.

Two employees of Six Packs on Vine, 401 W. Vine St., were closing the store shortly after 9:30 p.m. when two men wearing black bandannas over their faces and black hoodies entered, city police Lt. Todd Umstead said.

One of the men pointed a shotgun at a 72-year-old employee who was bent over, stocking a cooler, Umstead said.

The worker turned, saw the shotgun, yelled something, and then threw a 12-ounce can of beer at the gunman, Umstead said.

Both would-be bandits bolted from the store, police said. It was unclear if the thrown can struck the gunman.

Neither robber said anything while they were in the store, Umstead said.

The two intruders were last seen running west on West Vine Street, he said.

The gunman was described as black, 24 to 30 years old, about 6 feet, 3 inches tall with a thin build, Umstead said. There was no additional description of the second masked man.

Umstead stressed that police do not recommend victims resist armed robbers.

"Even a highly trained self-defense/martial arts expert would not attempt to disarm or fight a person pointing a gun at them unless it was an absolute last resort," he said. "Better to give them what they want and survive the ordeal. This could have ended very badly if the gun had discharged."

Umstead in no way faults the victim for taking action, but said the employee is very fortunate he was not hurt.

E-mail: rrobinson@lnpnews.com