MILL CREEK, Wash. - An armed robbery victim is alive today after a flashlight in his backpack stopped a bullet fired at him as he was running away from the scene of the robbery, Mill Creek police said.

And now the man suspected of firing the bullet is under arrest for investigation of attempted second-degree murder, said Mill Creek police spokesman Marc Schuermeyer.

The bizarre drama unfolded Friday at about 2:25 a.m. in the 17000 block of 9th Ave SE as officers responded to a report of an armed robbery. Initial reports said that a man had been robbed of his belongings by three suspects and was then shot at as he was fleeing the scene.

During the investigation, it was found that the victim met up with the suspect and two other men on the boardwalk leading to North Creek Park, where they drank some alcohol together.

At some point, there was a discussion about the victim selling his laser pointer to the suspect. This ultimately led to a disagreement over the exchange of money and the location of the laser pointer.

The victim, concerned for his safety, pulled out an Airsoft pellet gun. The suspect pulled out a .40 caliber pistol.

As the victim was fleeing, the suspect fired at him, Schuermeyer said. It was later discovered that the bullet entered the victim’s backpack and was stopped by a metal flashlight inside.

After an investigation, the suspect was arrested and booked into Snohomish County Jail on Sunday.

Police Chief Greg Elwin called the shooting an "isolated incident."

“The individuals in this case made some bad choices as they interacted with each other and this is not at all indicative of Mill Creek," Elwin said.