When a gun is being pointed in your face, the last thing most people would do is light a cigarette.
But that’s exactly what Tony Tovar did when he found himself at the centre of an armed robbery at his local, Behrmann’s Tavern, in St Louis, Missouri on Tuesday.
When the gunman burst in demanding cash, other people took cover – but not Tony.
Refusing to move, the cool customer picked up his phone and, when the criminal pointed a heavily-modified pistol at him, gripped it tightly and lit up.
After his ordeal, Tony explained his reaction to local TV channel KSDK.
He said he was angry at a growing number of these type of incidents in St Louis.
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Tony said: ‘I’m so tired of people in South City thinking they can control people because they wanna muscle their way in with firearms or attitudes or some sort of aggression.
‘I wasn’t really concerned. I just had a really good feeling he wasn’t out to harm anybody, he just wanted drug money.’
It’s thought the suspect has still not been identified by local police.
Tony warned others not to follow his lead.
He added: ‘It’s probably not your best interest if they have a loaded … firearm, I wouldn’t suggest that to just anybody.’
It’s believed the robbery was only the second incident at the bar, which has been open since the 1930s.
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