UPDATE: West Des Moines Police Release Name of Suspect in Armed Robbery in Valley Junction

Jacob William Nielsen, 18, of Des Moines has been charged with first-degree robbery in connection with an armed robbery Tuesday afternoon at , a locally owned shop selling glass pipes and other smoking accessories, said.

First-degree robbery is a Class B felony.

Authorities alleged that Nielsen entered the store at 515 Maple St. armed with a handgun, demanded cash and some merchandise and then fled. Two employees of the business followed Nielsen out of the store and then tackled him, holding him to the ground until police arrived. During the prolonged physical altercation, the suspect’s gun discharged, according to police.

When police arrived, Nielsen was taken into official custody without incident.

No one was shot during this altercation,but both store employees and the suspect suffered minor injuries from the physical altercation, police said. The suspect was transported to Broadlawns Medical Center and is currently being treated for his injuries.

The handgun was recovered at the scene.

Christy Cobb, a Valley Junction merchant, told Patch that she heard a commotion about 2:45 p.m.

“I heard what I thought was a gunshot,” said Cobb, owner of , which is around the corner from Fortune Gifts. “I sort of stood by my car for a minute – kind of unsure whether it was a gunshot or a car backfiring.”

In an official statement, police said they don’t recommend that victims of crimes, especially those committed with firearms, attempt to apprehend the suspects on their own. Instead, it’s recommended that they call 911 immediately and provide officers with as much information as possible about the incident.

Cobb, whose business has been there for 22 years, said when her business was robbed 10 years ago, she purchased a security system with an emergency button.

“We’ve never had a shooting,” she said. “That’s kind of unusual.”