Memphis Man Attempts Convenience Store Robbery With A Rock, A Railway Spike, And A Snake – Unaware That The Cashier Is Legally Armed

26-year-old Memphis man Reginald Cook has been arrested after he attempted to rob a Shell gas station using a live 5-foot-long snake.

At approximately 2 a.m. local time on Monday, April 15, Cook walked into the convenience store at a Shell gas station and made a regular transaction, WREG reports. Roughly half an hour later, he showed up again and demanded the cashier hand over some money from the register. The cashier said they believed he had a weapon because he kept putting his hands in his clothing, but they still refused to open the register. When Cook returned after that, 35 minutes later, he was joined by a 5-foot-long live snake.

He shouted at the cashier, “Give me the [expletive] money,” while reaching inside the backpack.

Police say that he was carrying a rock and a railroad spike inside his backpack.

I’m not sure exactly what the criminal’s plan was here, but I’m pretty sure that‘s not how Rock, Paper, Scissors is played.

The cashier pulled out their own firearm in response to the situation and called 911.

Police arrived at the scene shortly after and took Cook into custody.

This was Tennessee after all, not New York or California, and unlike those bastions of crime and disorder, no money was taken and no one was hurt.

Following the arrest, Cook’s family went to the gas station to apologize for the incident and offered to cover the cost of any damages to the store.