Gas Station Hostages Attack Their Captor After His Gun Malfunctioned

A group of people taken hostage in an Arizona gas station fought back against the suspect and managed to escape. Police say that 53-year-old Joel McClain Carson entered a Phoenix Circle K store and walked up behind a customer waiting in line.

Carson pulled out a gun and shot the customer in the head. He then ordered one of the store's employees to lock the door, trapping eight people inside the store.

"He said, 'This is not a game. It's not a joke. I don't want any money, any beer... I came prepared to die,'" one of the hostages told the police.

Carson barricaded the front door with a donut case and ordered the hostages to the back of the store. When Carson tried to fire his stolen .22-caliber pistol the gun malfunctioned, giving the hostages a chance to escape.

Some of the hostages rushed Carson and one of them managed to grab hold of his gun.

"I turned the gun to his stomach, and I tried to pull the trigger," the man told the police. "It was my only instinct to get myself out of the situation."

The hostages managed to escape the store, leaving Carson alone inside. Authorities tried to negotiate with him, but after an hour, a SWAT team was sent inside. Carson was shot once and taken to the hospital.

He spent a week in the hospital before he was released and booked on one count of of first-degree murder, nine counts of kidnapping, eight counts of aggravated assault, and possession of a weapon by a prohibited person.

Carson admitted to the shooting and told the police that he wanted them to kill him. He is currently awaiting trial.