But on Tuesday, David Thompson pulled a gun and kept the robber from getting away. Many in the eastern Missouri town are hailing Thompson for his actions.

Authorities say 58-year-old Donald Ray Lee walked into the bank and demanded money, exiting with nearly $5,000.

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch (http://bit.ly/VdNtbN ) reports that Thompson followed the robber outside and pulled a Colt .380 handgun. When the robber reached into his pocket as if he had a weapon, Thompson warned, “You don’t want to go there.”

The robber had no gun. Thompson and another armed bank official held him until police arrived.