Suspect arrested after Dollar General robbed in Burke County

BURKE COUNTY, N.C. — A man accused of robbing a Dollar General in Burke County has been arrested, deputies said.

It happened Monday at the store on Burke Street near the town of Rhodhiss.

Authorities said two customers were inside at the time, but may have been unaware of what was happening.

Investigators said the suspect stole cash and cigarettes and left in a Nissan Sentra they believe was stolen out of Hickory. A short time later, Burke County deputies found the getaway car abandoned in a driveway a half mile away.

Investigators say the suspect didn’t wear a mask as he first went shopping in the store but then robbed it while holding a gun in his pocket.

Within minutes of arriving at the Dollar General, the sheriff in Burke County shared a photo of the suspect.

Channel 9′s Dave Faherty could see a state tracking dog searching a neighborhood.

The robbery prompted a lockdown at nearby Ray Childers Elementary School. Two deputies were outside the school while a soft lockdown prevented students from going outside.

The workers at the store could not talk, but Faherty saw messages on social media where they said they weren’t hurt and hoped the person responsible for the robbery is caught soon.

Deputies said Johnny Gum was arrested Wednesday night and has been charged with felonious robbery with a dangerous weapon. Investigators said they searched his home and found evidence linking back to the robbery.

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