One dumb criminal learned a valuable lesson Wednesday morning when he attempted to rob guns from a sporting goods store: don’t bring pepper spray to a gunfight.

The Darwin Award nominee entered the DF Brothers Sports Center on New Utrecht Avenue in Bensonhurst, NY around 10:55 a.m. and asked to see a gun for sale. When the owner, who was working behind the counter at the time, asked the man for his license, the suspect pulled out a can of pepper spray and sprayed him in the face.

The suspect then pulled out a hammer and smashed a display case filled with firearms. He was able to get his hands on two guns before the owner drew his firearm and began shooting at the suspect, who quickly abandoned his loot, fleeing the scene empty handed and possibly suffering from a gunshot wound.

Investigators collected evidence at the scene and continue to check area hospitals for a patient with a gunshot wound who fits the description given by the store owner.

Dummies gonna dumb.