Family Dollar employee shot during ‘senseless’ robbery in Shelby

SHELBY, N.C. — The Shelby Police Department is investigating a robbery that led to one person being shot Tuesday night.

The incident occurred just before 10 p.m. at the Family Dollar on Fallston Road.

Police said a store employee was shot in the leg during the robbery. They have received treatment and have been released from the hospital.

Police called the crime “senseless.” They said the worker wasn’t threatening the masked robber and wasn’t in his way, but the suspect fired anyway.

According to investigators, it started when the robber approached one employee who was sitting in his car. He tapped on the window, and the employee saw a gun so close to his face that he thought he could tell exactly what kind of weapon it was.

Police said that employee walked inside the store with a gun at his back. His coworkers were all caught off guard.

According to the police report, the man with a gun asked to get into the safe. When an employee said he didn’t have the code, the robber said he would start shooting everyone in the store.

One of the four employees inside got cash somehow and gave it to the robber. As he left, said the robber leaned over the counter and fired a shot. The bullet hit the employee who just helped the thief.

Shelby police officers are poring over security camera video from inside the store. They say the man was dressed in all black and wore a hoodie, a face mask and had a scarf, all of which make it nearly impossible to get a description.

Shelby Police Department detectives are actively investigating this case and hope to get tips to help them find their suspect.

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