"It happened so quickly and I didn’t think he was serious at first," explained Steven McCleney.

He says it was his second week on the job and his first shift working alone at the register at Family Dollar on Main Street when all of a sudden…

Dispatch: 911 what's your emergency?
911 Caller: I just got robbed at Family Dollar by a black man in a windbreaker at knife point…"

According to authorities, 53-year-old Larry Eugene Johnson walked in to Family Dollar just before 10:30 Saturday morning.

“He purchased nail clippers for $.54; but according to McCleney. the customer wasn't finished shopping.

"I went to get him his nickel and pennies worth of change, and he said he was going to need the rest of the change as well and he made a grab for the money," said McCleney.

After what McCleney described as a game of tug-of-war with the cash, he says Johnson pulled out a knife.

"He stuck the knife up to my abdomen and that's when I backed off and went ahead and let him take my cash,” he added. “My first instinct was to fight for the money, but it wasn’t worth $200.”

Authorities say 41-year-old Jacqueline Yvonne Evans was waiting outside in the getaway car. As the duo drove away, McCleney called 911 to give authorities a license plate number and a detailed description of the suspects -- which, according to Madisonville Police Chief Chuck May -- led to a quick arrest.

“The guy who got robbed was pretty sharp and got the license plate number which is very rare in these cases,” said May.

With $200 stolen cash in hand, the suspects headed home to Centerville and in just a few hours, that's exactly where authorities located and arrested Johnson and Evans.

"It doesn't seem like much of a reward for the risk,” said McCleney. “But,

Although McCleney says the entire outcome was out of his hands, he says he'll take the reward of walking out unharmed after living through the life or death situation.

Both suspects were charged with aggravated robbery with a deadly weapon.