By Nina Golgowski An AutoZone employee and Air Force veteran who daringly thwarted an armed robbery at his Virginia store by using his own handgun at the scene has been fired for breaking company protocol. Devin McClean, 23, who worked at the York County store up until about a week ago, says he managed to slip out during the attack, grab his glock .40 handgun from his car and return - frightening away the bandit. 'When I yelled “freeze” and I said “stop, drop the weapon,” he threw his hands up with his gun still in his hand, he started running,' Mr McClean told WTKR.
@highlight
Devin McClean, 23, was fired for breaking company protocol on bringing a firearm into the store
@highlight
Mr McClean escaped the held up store and returned with a handgun from his car, scaring away the would-be robber
@highlight
He says his manager thanked him for saving his life two days before firing him
'@placeholder’s way of saying thank you - "Hey, you’re going to be fired" – it kind of made me feel sketchy about what I did,' he told WTKR.