Wednesday, January 24, 2007

Blenheim, South Carolina

From Florence’s MorningNewsOnline.com of January 24, 2007
Store Owner, Customer, Fight Back in Store Shootout

Marlboro county authorities are investigating a shootout at a Blenheim convenience store.

It happened shortly after eleven Tuesday night at McArthur's Trax on North Main Street.

The store's owner and customer didn't let the robber leave without a fight.

In 21 years of business Billy McArthur never had to use the gun he keeps in his store.

That was, until Tuesday night.

"We were all in there and then all of a sudden someone busted in the door, with a gun in his hand and was talking about give me your money," said McArthur.

Mcarthur says there were at least five people in the store at the time- a crowd the robber, probably didn't see coming.

McArthur says the suspect walked into the store, up to the counter and demanded money, that's when a customer approached the suspect, the suspect then turned around, and he shot the man.

The customer's son then grabbed a nearby can of beans and threw it at the robber, which gave McArthur time to grab his gun, and fire a round at the suspect.

The bullet missed the man, but McArthur says the message was clear.

"If I got a chance to shoot them, I'm gonna shoot them...that's just all there is to it," said McArthur.

Now the suspect's on the loose, the customer's in the hospital and McArthur's fielding questions from just about everyone in town.

Billy McArthur says after all these years, he didn't expect a robbery.

Now he says anyone else who plans on harming him or his business should expect, a fight.

Investigators are still looking for the suspect in this case.

No comments:

Post a Comment