PAINTSVILLE, Ky. (WYMT) - Employees at a Paintsville business say they are thankful to be alive after being robbed at gunpoint Friday night. A store employee explains it is something you hope never happens as a clerk, "This guy comes in the door with the mask over his face and a toboggan and a big jacket. and got about halfway through here and started pulling the gun out of his pants."

The store employee says at first when the suspect came through the door at M & T Liquor Store she thought it was someone playing a prank,"I thought who is this? I'm going to be so mad when I find out who this is and I'm going to smack em."

She quickly realized this was not a prank, "He was like hurry hurry and I was like ok ok chill...kind of in shcok, I said I'm calling the cops and that is when he reached over the counter and put the gun in my face."

The clerk says she tried to stay calm and cooperate as she realized what was happening, "I was like wow this is real."

The suspect grabbed the cash and ran out the door, but he left behind some important items according to Paintsville Police Chief, "We found the weapon that was used which ended up being a bb gun."

He also left a trail of clothing. Chief Sluss says, "It all led to a place where we then had the male suspect and took him into custody."

Paintsville Police say the suspect is a juvenile and he has been charged with first degree robbery. He is being held in Boyd County.