Jacksonville police: Family Dollar robbery suspect shot customer, pointed gun at pregnant employee

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A robbery suspect is on the run, accused of shooting someone at a Family Dollar and pointing a gun at a pregnant woman on Tuesday night.

The 72-year-old who was shot was in serious but stable condition. Witnesses tell Action News Jax the victim was trying to protect a pregnant employee.

"She's six months pregnant and I'm frantic," said Christie Kenneey, the employee’s mom. "That's terrifying, that's terrifying,"

Kenneey said her daughter was behind the counter when a man walked in with a gun.

"Someone jumped the counter and pointed a gun at her," Kenneey said.

Police say as the suspect was trying to take off, "one of the patrons pushed him back," said Lt. Kelvin Anderson with the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office.

Police say as the suspect fell, he shot the customer in the upper body. Police are not certain if that shooting was intentional.

The customer, Kenneey said, was coming from a nearby church picking up some plastic plates.

Police say he's at the hospital in stable condition with serious injuries.

"I just hope the customer that was shot that was trying to do the right thing is going to be all right as well," Kenneey said.

In the meantime, police were seen for several hours collecting evidence and talking to witnesses.

They say the man ran behind the store and took off on 16th Street.

Anderson said the suspect is described as a black man between the ages of 25 and 35. He was wearing a blue shirt, khaki shorts, a hat and had a goatee.

Cox Media Group