A video shared on the Ring Camera Neighbors website shows the moment an armed suspect held a Donut Star customer at gunpoint and demanded money in Irvine.

The video, originally shared on Reddit on Tuesday, May 11, shows the entire situation unfolding.

As a man was buying donuts for his golfing buddies at the Irvine-based Donut Star, a man wearing a camouflage cowboy hat and a black jacket and sunglasses walked up behind him and pulled out a gun. The suspect can be seen pointing the gun directly at the back of the victim’s head.

After the suspect obtains $100 in cash from the victim, he runs out of the location — only to be chased down by the victim.

In an email with Irvine Weekly, Irvine Police Department Sergeant Karie Davies gave an update on the victim’s status. Once the victim caught up to the suspect, a struggle ensued, but the victim was able to grab the weapon.

“According to the victim, he was there to grab donuts for his golf buddies as he does quite often. He was approached by the gunman who put the gun to the victim’s head and demanded money. The victim reluctantly handed over the money but then his adrenaline kicked in and he struggled with the suspect, chasing him to the Chevron gas station across the parking lot,” Davies wrote. “They struggled again and the victim was able to gain control of the gun which he determined to be an air-soft at that time. The suspect ran away through the shopping center and out of sight. He changed clothes and remained in the area where he was noticed by officers and detained.”

Davies said IPD identified the suspect as a resident of Irvine.

“He was arrested for robbery,” she wrote. “His name is 47-year-old Kenneth Smith, a resident of Irvine.”

Davies added that the victim was fortunate that he was not injured in the exchange. However, she said this is a reminder that real danger exists, and to be aware of the consequences.

“He said he wanted to get his money back and just reacted,” Davies wrote. “We always encourage the public to be good witnesses and not put themselves in danger. We all have the fight or flight response and sometimes adrenaline kicks in and we react. In this instance, the victim’s instinct kicked in and he reacted. Thank goodness he wasn’t seriously hurt.”

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