By DAVID MELSON - dmelson@t-g.com
An armed robber held a rural Bedford County convenience store clerk at knifepoint Friday night while demanding his sister, also a clerk, turn over the money in the cash register, authorities said.
The man entered Pit Stop Market, Highway 64 West, at 8:46 p.m., Det. Lt. John Sweeney of the Bedford County Sheriff’s Office said. Several hundred dollars were taken.
Security video shows the suspect entering the store and making his way behind the front counter. The clerk who was held at knifepoint told Deputy Jacob Miller the robber appeared to be shopping and started asking questions about merchandise.
“He entered the area behind the counter, grabbed the (male clerk) and placed him in a chokehold and held a butcher style knife to the back of his head,” Miller said. “He started shouting to give him the money.”
The woman raises her hands in the video as the suspect approaches her brother, who was standing to the side several feet nearer him.
At that point the robber can be seen pointing the knife with his left hand.
“He ordered the victims to look out the window,” Sweeney said.
The robber places his left arm around the brother’s neck while switching the knife to his right hand. He points the knife at the back of the brother’s head and initially walks him toward his sister, then toward plastic bags hanging behind the counter. The brother points toward the bags as his sister gets the money. The robber grabs one of the bags and tosses it onto the counter next to the store owner.
The clerk puts the money into the bag and hands it to the robber, who is still holding her brother at knifepoint. The robber stuffs the bag into his right jeans pocket and moves the knife into his right hand.
No further words were spoken by the suspect from that point, Sweeney said.
With the knife pointed downward, he walks the woman, who is directly in front of him, and her brother to a side door near the drive-up window before pushing his way around them and departing. The robber kicked both victims several times, Miller’s report said.
The brother suffered minor lacerations to the back of his neck while being held, according to Sweeney. Both were checked by Bedford County Emergency Medical Service personnel.
Investigators describe the suspect as standing 5-feet-7 to 5-feet-10 and estimate his weight as between 130-145 pounds. His race can’t be determined due to the mask, Sweeney said.
The time stamp on the video shows 8:46 p.m. The robbery was reported at 8:52.
Deputies said the man was last seen walking westbound on Highway 64. The area was searched extensively until well past midnight.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Bedford County Sheriff’s Office. 931-684-3232.
