A man who walked in on the armed robbery and physical assault of a convenience store manager in progress Saturday morning battled the offender, struggling with him until help arrived, said Claxton Police Chief Edward Oglesby.

Earl Dewayne Brewton, 45, of Pete Hagan Road in Hagan, "broke through the doors" at Food Fresh on North Duval Street in Claxton sometime between 6-7 a.m. and attacked manager Derest McKinnon, age unavailable, with the butt of a 20-gauge shotgun, according to Oglesby and Claxton Police incident reports.

Brewton reportedly beat McKinnon in the upper body and head until he was rendered unconscious. Then, according to reports, Brewton "went through his pockets."

That's when Jesse James Emanuel, 35, walked in, saw the attack in progress and "interceded," reports state. Oglesby said Emanuel fought with Brewton and suffered a broken hand in the process.

Still, Emanuel, who had called 911, held Brewton off until police arrived, Oglesby said.

Brewton is being held without bond in the Evans County Jail on two charges of aggravated assault and one charge of armed robbery.

The case was turned over to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, reports state.