Durham Lowe’s worker hit with sledgehammer during robbery, police say

DURHAM, N.C. (WNCN) — The Durham Police Department is asking for the public’s help identifying a person suspected of robbing a store in which someone was injured Saturday night.

According to Durham police, the robbery took place around 8:42 p.m. Saturday at the Lowe’s Home Improvement store located at 4402 Fayetteville Road, which is near the intersection with Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway.

Police said Tuesday that an employee of Lowe’s was assisting a customer when the customer took a sledgehammer from his shopping cart and struck the employee’s head. When the victim fell to the ground, the customer grabbed a drill set box and ran out of the store.

The employee sustained serious injuries and was transported to the hospital. The victim’s condition is now stable.

Inside the store, CBS 17 crews saw two signs posted by customer service that read, in part, “profanity, verbal threats, or violence towards our associates will not be tolerated.”

In surveillance photos released by police, the person appears to be wearing a black hoodie and black pants along with dark-colored shoes with pops of bright pink and blue on them. The person is also seen wearing a blue medical mask.

According to a map posted by the Durham Police Department, in a five-mile radius from the Lowes on Fayetteville Road there have been 560 reported crimes since July 1, mostly larceny, burglaries and thefts.

CBS 17 reached out to Lowes Corporate Office on Tuesday to check in on the employee, and to find out if they’ve had problems with stealing and violence before and have not yet heard back.

Police said they have obtained warrants for the suspect in Saturday’s attack but have not released his name.

CBS 17 crews also asked if there is a rise in these types of crimes and if they think there is a ring specifically targeting the area and will update when they respond.

Anyone who may have information is asked to call Investigator Blake at (919) 560-4440 ext. 29282.

Anonymous tips can also be left through CrimeStoppers at (919) 683-1200 or online at durhamcrimestoppers.org .

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