Owners Nicholas Swearingen, 21, and John Russell, 29, said they didn't think about their own safety when a man drew a gun on them in their store. They just reacted to the physical threat.

Now they hope the suspect faces the music.

According to Detective Wendell Hall of the Aiken Department of Public Safety, officers responded to 911 calls by residents outside of the store who saw the altercation, which began just after 1 p.m. in a strip mall between Teresa's and Shoney's restaurants.

Mr. Swearingen said he was up front and his partner was in the back of the store installing a car stereo when a man acting suspiciously entered the retail area. He seemed to be observing the inventory, the store owner said - but not looking to buy.

''He acted like he was up to no good,'' Mr. Swearingen said.

When Mr. Swearingen asked him what he wished to purchase, the man said he wanted a touch-screen DVD player. But Mr. Swearingen wanted proof the man was ready to pay before he went to claim one of the players from the stock room.

The man went to reach for something at his waistline. It was a gun.

Mr. Swearingen said he sprang over the counter and landed an elbow between the shoulder blades, knocking the man down. The man recovered and drew the gun out completely, leveling it at Mr. Swearingen.

In reaction, Mr. Swearingen jumped behind an 80-100 pound display.

''I jumped behind the display and threw it at him and knocked him into a wall,'' Mr. Swearingen said. The man got up and, pointing the gun again, backed out of the store.

That's when Mr. Russell, who heard the cries of his partner, came to check out the commotion.

''We're not no relation, but he's as close as you can get to family,'' Mr. Russell said. ''When he pointed that gun at my partner, I didn't think.''

Instead, he and Mr. Swearingen chased the man through parking lots and side streets.

''It wasn't the wisest thing to do,'' Mr. Russell said.

The chase ended near Southside Gallery on Pine Log Road. The men lost the suspect after he turned a building corner, but a man stopped at a stop sign and pointed to where the breathless suspect was hiding: in some bushes in front of the gallery.

Detective Hall said that's where police apprehended Detrum Bernard Smoakes, 19, of Route 2, Box 123 Goat Lane in Fairfax, S.C.

He is charged with armed robbery and two counts of pointing and presenting a firearm.

The X-Treme owners said it was a situation that called for extreme measures.

''If it wasn't for us, there's a chance he would have got away, although the police were on him in three minutes. I'm not going to take anyone pointing a gun at my partner like they did,'' Mr. Russell said.

Detective Hall applauded the residents' efforts and the speedy officer response.

The two men have owned their South Aiken business approximately a year and eight months.

Reach Eric Williamson at (803) 648-1395 or eric@augusta.com.