KFC / Taco Bell Manager Shot During Holdup

A manager at a KFC / Taco Bell was shot during a holdup.  It happened early this morning (Wednesday).

The Johnston County Sheriff’s Office said the 48 year-old assistant manager of the business was locking up and leaving the store at 12340 Highway 210, Benson (near I-40) when he was approached in the parking lot near his car by a man armed with a gun.  The suspect forced the employee back inside the KFC / Taco Bell and demanded money.  During the robbery the employee was shot.  The suspect then fled with an undisclosed amount of cash.

Trying to summon help, the injured employee activated the panic alarm on his car.  A customer in the parking lot of a nearby convenience store heard the alarm and asked the clerk to call authorities. When deputies arrived they discovered the gunshot victim. The victim was taken to the hospital for treatment of a serious but non-life threatening wound to the leg.

The suspect was described as a black male about 5 foot 6. No clothing description was available.

Nearby Business Robbed Last Month
Around 3:10am on June 12th, the manager at Hardee’s at 11959 Highway 210, Benson was approached in the parking lot as she arrived to open the restaurant.  The suspect forced her inside and at gunpoint stole an undisclosed amount of money from a safe.  He then forced the female victim into a cooler before fleeing.

Sheriff’s Captain Jeff Caldwell said detectives are investigating to see if the two robberies have any possible connection.

Anyone with information about either robbery is asked to contact the Johnston County Sheriff’s Office at 919-989-5000.