Police: Suspect shot during attempted robbery at Lincolnton gas station

LINCOLNTON, N.C. — Police said a man was shot when he tried to rob someone in Lincolnton on Sunday. He has since been taken into custody.

Lincolnton Police Department officers went to a BP gas station on East Main Street around 5:30 p.m. Sunday. At the scene, officers found the robbery victim, who was a customer at the gas station.

The victim told police a man got into his car, tried to steal it, and held up a knife. He said took out his gun and fired, hitting the suspect.

Officers later identified the suspect as 39-year-old Billy Ray Galloway from Denver.

Police say Galloway was still at the scene when police got there and was taken to the hospital with minor injuries.

Galloway was charged with attempted robbery and was arrested by the Gastonia Police Department after he was discharged from the hospital on Monday. He’s is now being held at the Gaston County jail.

Channel 9′s Ken Lemon spoke with the woman who called 911 as it was happening. Aysia Silvers said she believes the police arrested the right person. But still, she was stunned by what she saw Sunday evening and even more surprised that it happened during daylight hours.

Silvers told Lemon she was pumping gas yards away when she saw Galloway get into a man’s car. She said the windows were up but she could hear them arguing.

She said Galloway then got out of the car and walked over to the driver’s side. The driver then stepped out and shot Galloway in the leg, she said.

“It all happened so fast. The driver got out and shot him. We all, my mom and my siblings, we just instant tears, were shaking” Silvers explained.

Silvers said she stayed calm and called 911 and when she spoke to police she realized the driver was a victim of an attempted carjacking.

“To be honest. I’m going to say, it’s self defense,” Silvers continued.

This is a developing story; check back at wsoctv.com for updates.

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