A Charlotte man was arrested in connection with the robbery attempt after being held down by employees, the Lancaster County Sheriff’s Department said.
LANCASTER, S.C. — A robbery attempt at an Indian Land liquor store turned dangerous this weekend when shots were fired inside during a struggle between employees and the suspect, the Lancaster County Sheriff’s Department said.
It happened Saturday afternoon at Stateline Elite package store on Charlotte Highway.
Police arrested 27-year-old Datarius Marques Vaughn-McHam from Charlotte, after he allegedly tried to steal two expensive bottles of tequila from the store.
When store workers stopped him from leaving, he pulled out a gun, officials said.
During the scuffle, the suspect’s gun went off twice but did not hit anyone.
Employees and a customer managed to hold him down until police arrived. One employee sustained a bite wound and the suspect ended up with a bloody nose.
Vaughn-McHam was already wanted by several police departments in North Carolina, officials noted.
Additionally, the gun he used had been reported lost in Charlotte on New Year’s Eve.
Vaughn-McHam now faces serious charges, including attempted murder, armed robbery and using a gun during a violent crime.
He’s being held in jail without bond.
“This was a very dangerous incident, and I am thankful no one was shot or seriously hurt,” Sheriff Barry Faile said. “While we are glad Vaughn-McHam was detained by the employees and a customer, I caution folks that what begins as a property crime like this can quickly turn into a life-or-death situation when you don’t know who you’re dealing with or what he might have on him.”
The better course of action, the sheriff said, is to get a good description or photos of the suspect and his car with a tag number and pass that information along to police.
