GRAND FORKS – Two gas station employees are lucky to be alive after fighting off an armed man during a robbery, according to Grand Forks police.

The attempted robbery occurred at 3:30 a.m. on Monday, August 12, at the old Valley Dairy on the corner of North Washington and University Drive.

Ian Kramchuck, 20, appeared in court Monday afternoon and was charged with robbery, terrorizing and obstruction of justice.

“It was a real handgun, it was loaded and ready to fire,” said Lieutenant Andy Stein of the Grand Forks Police Department.

According to GFPD, two employees were in the store when Kramchuck entered the store. One was behind the counter and the other was in another location in the building. Investigators say Kramchuck went behind the counter, pointed a gun at the clerk and demanded money.

“A scuffle ensued and the employee was able to disarm and subdue the suspect while the other employee called 911,” Stein said.

The police advise against this and ask employees to comply and act as witnesses to help in the search for the suspect.

“Both employees were very lucky that things turned out the way they did. You never know what someone is up to at the moment and what they are capable of,” said Stein.

Grand Forks police confirmed they are investigating whether Kramchuck is the person in a poster posted Friday, which is why bail has been set at $30,000.

“He is a suspect in a number of burglaries and thefts from motor vehicles and there is the possibility of additional charges,” said Grand Forks County Assistant Prosecutor Kathryn Jund.

If convicted of robbery, Kramchuck faces four to ten years in prison.

Matt Henson is an Emmy Award-winning reporter/photographer/editor for WDAY. Before joining WDAY in 2019, Matt was the lead anchor at WDAZ in Grand Forks for four years.