Police surveillance footage in Ohio, USA, captured the moment a suspect in a store theft attempted to shoot an officer at extremely close range, but a gun malfunction and the intervention of an employee prevented a disaster.

The incident occurred after the 21-year-old suspect and a woman accompanying him were detained on suspicion of shoplifting.

The video shows that as the officer was preparing to check their information, the young man pulled a gun hidden in his shoulder bag and aimed it directly at the officer.

The footage recorded two clicks from the weapon, indicating the gun had malfunctioned and failed to fire. At that moment, a store security employee intervened, trying to restrain the suspect, which allowed the officer to regain control and subdue the man until backup arrived.