West Philadelphia -
Witnesses describe the gun fire that echoed down Wyalusing Avenue Friday morning as sounding like a machine gun after an armed robbery inside a West Philadelphia market went bad.

The owner chased the gun toting robber down the block and opened fire.

"I do what I had to do," said store owner Fercido Nunez.

"Clearly this guy was in danger, his family was in danger," said Lt. John Walker of Southwest Detectives.

It all started just before 9 am. inside the market. Police say the gunman walked in, announced a robbery to the owner's wife and stole $40. Then, he turned on the owner and fired two shots. The 39-year-old Nunez fired four shots back from his licensed handgun.

"He was concerned for his family and there was a child walking through that door at the exchange of gunfire," Walker said.

When the gunman ran from the store, the owner, a former police officer in the Dominican Republic, gave chase, then opened fire when the robber turned on him with his .38 caliber revolver.

"He didn't intend to shoot him, when the male turned on him with the gun a second time, he discharged," Walker added.

The owner's daughter praised her dad's actions

"He's great. I love my dad," said Catherine Nunez.

"He's heroic inside the store," Walker said.

"I'm just a simple guy doing a service for the community...you had to do what you had to do. Yes. Thank you so much guys," Nunez said.

"You can put me on that jury, he's innocent," said one neighbor

Neighbors say the store owner is a good guy who did the right thing chasing the gunman and shooting him.

"I heard they had a gun to his wife's head, he came out and shot him. Vigilante justice," a neighbor said.

"He is permitted to do that under those circumstances. We'll confer with the district attorney," Walker explained.

It appears no charges will be filed against the store owner.

The suspect was shot twice in the stomach.

Police say he's a convicted felon and not supposed to have a gun. He will be charged with two counts of attempted murder, robbery and weapons offenses. He is in critical, but stable condition at the hospital.