Devin McLean and his store manager were about to close the AutoZone in York County, Va. when a gunman barged into the store.

“He pulled a gun from his waist band and demanded me and my manager go back into the office,” McLean told Fox News.

At some point, McLean was left in a restroom while the gunman made the manager open the store safe. That’s when McLean, a 23-year-old Air Force veteran, bolted through a side door and ran to his truck.

He returned through the front door holding a Glock 40 – pointed directly at the masked robber.

“I told him to freeze and to drop his weapon,” McLean told Fox News.

Instead, the robber took off – last seen running down the street from the store.

“I watched him run down the street,” he said. “I came back inside and made sure my manager was okay and he called the police.”

McLean's manager credited him with saving his life. Two days later McLean was fired for violating Autozone's zero tolerance policy.

It is an outrage that in a selfless act a man who served our country did as he was trained to do. He not only stopped the robbery but potentially saved the life of his co-worker. Had he not taken action, his manager, and possibly he wouldn't be here today. Autozone refuses to comment on the matter. We demand that Autozone not only reinstate Devin McLean but also reevaluate their zero tolerance policy on weapons. This should have been an exception and proof that ZERO tolerance should not be tolerated.