But what, realistically, could he do to stop further violence/harassment against him, even if it could be understood that he wasn't in danger for his life
Honestly, he should have had mace. Frankly, he should have used it as soon as both of them came back in the store. He would have been fine had he seen them walk in with an attitude and just maced them.
The problem is that he got himself stuck:
He didn't have a less lethal option on him
He didn't have a defensive structure to keep someone from crossing the counter
He didn't have a lethal weapon on him to display as a threat.
But because he didn't have anything really prepared except for a knife, the only real option, especially with state law, that he had was to do nothing.
The lesson here is to not put yourself in such a situation, especially when mace is pretty cheap and available.
Honestly, he should have had mace. Frankly, he should have used it as soon as both of them came back in the store. He would have been fine had he seen them walk in with an attitude and just maced them.
The problem is that he got himself stuck:
But because he didn't have anything really prepared except for a knife, the only real option, especially with state law, that he had was to do nothing.
The lesson here is to not put yourself in such a situation, especially when mace is pretty cheap and available.