NEW YORK ( CNN ) -- A potential victim became a compassionate counselor during a recent robbery attempt , changing the would-be criminal 's mind -- and apparently his religion . Surveillance video shows storekeeper Mohammad Sohail holding a robber at bay with a shotgun . Storekeeper Mohammad Sohail was closing up his Long Island convenience store just after midnight on May 21 when -- as shown on the store 's surveillance video -- a man came in wielding a baseball bat and demanding money . `` He said , 'Hurry up and give me the money , give me the money ! ' and I said , 'Hold on ' , '' Sohail recalled in a phone interview with CNN on Tuesday , after the store video and his story was carried on local TV . Sohail said he reached under the counter , grabbed his gun and told the robber to drop the bat and get down on his knees . `` He 's crying like a baby , '' Sohail said . `` He says , 'Do n't call police , do n't shoot me , I have no money , I have no food in my house . ' `` Amidst the man 's apologies and pleas , Sohail said he felt a surge of compassion . He made the man promise never to rob anyone again and when he agreed , Sohail gave him $ 40 and a loaf of bread . `` When he gets $ 40 , he 's very impressed , he says , ' I want to be a Muslim just like you , ' `` Sohail said , adding he had the would-be criminal recite an Islamic oath . `` I said 'Congratulations . You are now a Muslim and your name is Nawaz Sharif Zardari . ' '' When asked why he chose the hybrid of two Pakistani presidents ' names , the Pakistani immigrant laughed and said he had been watching a South Asian news channel moments before the confrontation . Sohail said the man fled the store when he turned away to get the man some free milk . He said police might still be looking for the suspect but he does n't intend to press charges . `` The guy , you know , everybody has a hard time right now , it 's too bad for everybody right now in this economy , '' said the storekeeper .
Long Island storekeeper Mohammad Sohail faces man wielding baseball bat . New York (CNN) -- Man 's story tugs at Sohail 's heartstrings , and he offers man money , bread , milk . After act of compassion , man says he wants to become a Muslim like Sohail .