Jeweler considered hero after robbery

CHICOPEE, Mass. (WWLP) - A lot of us might dread the busy holiday shopping season, but one Chicopee business owner is thankful to be a part of it this year. Eight weeks ago two men held up Tony Furnari's Chicopee Jewelry store.

Tony and his assistant Cindy Shachter remember that day in mid October when two men came into Furnari's Jewelers on Memorial drive.

“They knocked me out of the way, went right over the desk and just started to beat on Tony, it was awful,” Schachter told 22News.

Tony Furnari told 22News, he's still getting over the injuries. But in the process of defending himself, he shot one of the two men later charged with the holdup. Furnari said it’s gratifying the way people have treated him since that day.

“People are just like proud of us for defending ourselves all over from all walks of life,” Tony Furnari said.  “Unbelievable, the people every day congratulating us and not being a victim, it’s been unbelievable. I hope people could witness it.”

As one of his customers told 22News, that's one for the little guy.

One regret has grown out of the holdup of two months ago. Tony said he's had no choice but to increase security. Now he has to buzz in customers before they can enter the store.