Who knew violent video games rubbing off on kids could be a good thing?

Police in Maryland have released a video of a seven-year-old who surprised a robbery suspect by hauling off and socking him while he confronted employees of a video game retailer.

It happened on May 20, when a pair of armed assailants held up a GameStop location in Silver Spring, Maryland. The boy tore into them, but ultimately was briefly held hostage along with other customers and employees.

“The two suspects knew exactly what they wanted to do, and aggressively took over the store,” says Officer Rick Goodale, a Montgomery County police spokesperson.

Local police told WJLA the robbers entered the store just before its 9 p.m. closing last Friday night.

“He pointed the gun and said get on the floor, then he pushed us on the floor,” the boy’s father, who wished to remain anonymous, told local news. “He’s a brave little boy, and he recognized he was in a dangerous situation. And there was a stranger and he was trying to defend himself.”