"I thought, we're lucky to be alive," he said.
One person, the store's goldsmith, identified only as Veronica, was stabbed in the attack, receiving potentially career-ending wounds to her hand. She underwent surgery in the early morning hours of Wednesday.
It started as just a regular Tuesday afternoon. Three young men walked in. One told Carrie Hooper, Dan's niece, he was looking for an engagement ring, and had brought along friends for moral support.
She was reaching for a diamond engagement ring to show him when a man jumped the counter and told her to "get down on the ground, or he was going to kill me."
She heard the store's goldsmith, Veronica, go to the back of the store, to close the safe, in an attempt to secure customers' belongings.
And then, all hell broke loose.
Dan, who was at the front of the King Street store, had a grandfather clock pushed at him by one of the would-be robbers. He pushed it back, then moved down the counter, throwing display cases at the man. Within seconds, Veronica had been stabbed, then bound with duct tape.
That's when Ron Hooper, co-owner of the store and a Clarington councillor, walked in. He had been at Town Hall, preparing for the council meeting to be held that evening.
"I came through the door and noticed showcases all over the floor," said Ron. "My brother was yelling, call 911, screaming at me. He said, 'We're being robbed.'
"All I can remember seeing was the silver blade" of the knife the man closest to the door had, recalled Ron Thursday afternoon.
In a bizarre twist, one of the robbers chased Ron out the door, pursuing him westbound down King Street.
"All I could visualize was this item (the knife) going into my back," he said.
Citizens helped take up the chase, and almost immediately, Durham Regional Police arrived, managing to take two suspects into custody.
One remains at large.
Staff gathered at the store, which remained closed Wednesday, to clean up the mess left behind and to talk. Ron was able to visit with Veronica, who had been released from hospital.
"That's my biggest concern -- my staff was traumatized," said Ron, still visibly shaken by the incident. In terms of Veronica, it's possible her career is in jeopardy. After all, said Ron, "She needs her hands to do the work she does."
This is the second time the store has been robbed, but by far, it was the most violent.
"It's the worst experience anybody could possibly ever imagine," said Ron. "It's all laid on the line, right there in front of you."
The thieves got no money or jewelry in the botched holdup.
Staff at the store "did what they were supposed to do" during the robbery, said Ron.
"They're really the heroes," he said.
Charles Potts, 23, of no fixed address, and Michael Arthur Young, 33, of Stinson Avenue in Hamilton, are both charged with attempted robbery, aggravated assault, assault with a weapon, weapons dangerous, forcible confinement and attempted theft.
The final suspect is described as a white man, 5-foot-10 to 6 feet tall, 25-35 years old, with a shaved head and a receding hairline. He was wearing a dark brown or black leather jacket, a light coloured untucked patterned dress shirt, blue jeans and running shoes. He was armed with a large knife and is considered armed and dangerous.
Investigators believe he may be travelling in a red Pontiac Grand Prix or Grand Am style vehicle, possibly heading towards the Hamilton area.
"Don't approach him," said DRPS spokesman David Selby. Anyone who believes they have spotted the man should call police.
"This is of great concern to us. It was very violent," said Mr. Selby.
Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Jim Houston of the Robbery Unit at 905-579-1520, ext. 5355. Anonymous tips can be made to Durham Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS. Tipsters may be eligible for a cash reward of up to $2,000.
