GAINESVILLE, TX - A shoplifter is in jail after police say he shot a Good Samaritan who tried to stop him early Sunday morning at a Gainesville convenience store.

Gainesville Police say they've been to the 24-hour Valero gas station on Grand and Myrtle before, but not for anything quite as violent as the events that took place early Sunday morning. Around 2:30 a.m., police say 21-year-old Anthony Elias Lupian entered the store and tried to walk out without paying for a case of beer. The store clerk then screamed for help.

"The victim, being a good Samaritan decided to chase the suspect down, into the middle of Grand Avenue, where the suspect pulled a gun and shot, several times striking the victim,” said Sgt. Bobby Balthrop of the Gainesville Police Department..

Sgt. Balthrop says more than a dozen shots were fired by Lupian, who hit 49-year-old Wray Westbrook of Gainesville, multiple times. Westbrook was taken by medical helicopter to Harris Hospital in Fort Worth, with non-life threatening injuries. He is reportedly listed in stable condition.

Gainesville Police worked all morning taking reports from eyewitnesses. They say Lupian is facing serious charges that stemmed from a case of beer, worth just a little more than $15.00.

"Shoplifting is a class C-misdemeanor, punishable only by a fine. Now he faces an aggravated robbery charge which is a 1st degree felony,” Sgt. Balthrop said.

Balthrop said Tuesday they plan to charge Lupian with aggravated robbery, a first-degree felony, rather than attempted murder, which is a second degree felony.

We talked to neighbors in the area who saw the shooting, but all were too scared to talk on camera.