NEW YORK (CNN)  -- A potential victim became a compassionate counselor during a recent robbery attempt, changing the would-be criminal's mind -- and apparently his religion.



Surveillance video shows storekeeper Mohammad Sohail holding a robber at bay with a shotgun.



Storekeeper Mohammad Sohail was closing up his Long Island convenience store just after midnight on May 21 when -- as shown on the store's surveillance video -- a man came in wielding a baseball bat and demanding money.



"He said, 'Hurry up and give me the money, give me the money!' and I said, 'Hold on'," Sohail recalled in a phone interview with CNN on Tuesday, after the store video and his story was carried on local TV.



Sohail said he reached under the counter, grabbed his gun and told the robber to drop the bat and get down on his knees.



"He's crying like a baby," Sohail said. "He says, 'Don't call police, don't shoot me, I have no money, I have no food in my house.' "



Amidst the man's apologies and pleas, Sohail said he felt a surge of compassion.



He made the man promise never to rob anyone again and when he agreed, Sohail gave him $40 and a loaf of bread.



"When he gets $40, he's very impressed, he says, 'I want to be a Muslim just like you,' " Sohail said, adding he had the would-be criminal recite an Islamic oath.



"I said 'Congratulations. You are now a Muslim and your name is Nawaz Sharif Zardari.'"



When asked why he chose the hybrid of two Pakistani presidents' names, the Pakistani immigrant laughed and said he had been watching a South Asian news channel moments before the confrontation.



Sohail said the man fled the store when he turned away to get the man some free milk.



He said police might still be looking for the suspect but he doesn't intend to press charges.



"The guy, you know, everybody has a hard time right now, it's too bad for everybody right now in this economy," said the storekeeper.
Who grabbed the shotgun? Who faces man wielding baseball bat? How much is being offered? Where was the store? After what did he want to become a Muslim? What did the man with the bat do? Where is Mr. Sohail from? what was wielded? what was offered? who has the gun? What did Sohail give to the theif? What is the religion of the man? What did Sohail do when the man started crying?
Mohammad Sohail Storekeeper Mohammad Sohail $40 Long Island a recent robbery attempt, demanding money. Long Island baseball bat $40 and a loaf of bread. Mohammad Sohail $40 and a loaf of bread. Muslim gave him $40 and a loaf of bread.
question: Who grabbed the shotgun?, answer: Mohammad Sohail | question: Who faces man wielding baseball bat?, answer: Storekeeper Mohammad Sohail | question: How much is being offered?, answer: $40 | question: Where was the store?, answer: Long Island | question: After what did he want to become a Muslim?, answer: a recent robbery attempt, | question: What did the man with the bat do?, answer: demanding money. | question: Where is Mr. Sohail from?, answer: Long Island | question: what was wielded?, answer: baseball bat | question: what was offered?, answer: $40 and a loaf of bread. | question: who has the gun?, answer: Mohammad Sohail | question: What did Sohail give to the theif?, answer: $40 and a loaf of bread. | question: What is the religion of the man?, answer: Muslim | question: What did Sohail do when the man started crying?, answer: gave him $40 and a loaf of bread.