A Good Samaritan was injured Thursday when he attempted to stop a shoplifting suspect inside a Johnston County convenience store.
The incident happened around 2:20am at the Shell Gas Station on Highway 210 at Interstate 40 outside of Benson.
Johnston County deputies said a man pulled up in a car, entered the business, exchanges some words with the clerk, and grabbed a bottle of wine and began to walk out the door without paying. A 52 year-old customer who was in the business attempted to stop the suspect but was assaulted. A second person waiting in a car for the suspect saw the altercation and came inside and also assaulted the Good Samaritan, before both suspects fled.
A short time later, deputies said they located one of the two men walking on Highway 210 at Raleigh Road. The suspect fled on foot and managed to elude apprehension.
Sheriff’s Captain Jeff Caldwell said the clerk was able to provide a license plate number of a vehicle involved in the incident and detectives are currently following up on leads in the case.
The victim who was assaulted was not seriously injured.
Deputies did recover the stolen bottle of wine, valued at $8.49, during the foot chase.
