CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A routine Sunday afternoon turned chaotic at a South Charlotte Harris Teeter when an attempted robbery escalated into a violent encounter, leaving three people hospitalized.
The incident unfolded at the Harris Teeter located on Carnegie Boulevard when three suspects—two women and one man—attempted to steal items, reportedly wine, from the store. As employees tried to intervene, the suspects unleashed bear spray, a potent chemical that left several workers in distress.
One man, not an employee but a Good Samaritan who tried to stop the robbery, was shoved to the ground, suffering a head injury. He was found unconscious but is now in stable condition after being rushed to the hospital. Two other individuals were also taken to the hospital with minor injuries.
Witnesses described the scene as chaotic, with one deli worker, Jacob Martinson, recounting the terrifying moments. “I heard a loud banging noise and then a woman shrieking. By the time I got to the front, it was over, but a man was unconscious,” Martinson said.
A total of seven to eight employees were hit with the bear spray, causing panic and confusion in the store. The suspects fled the scene in an unknown vehicle, and police are actively searching for them.
This shocking incident has left the South Park community rattled, with customers expressing disbelief that such violence could occur in their neighborhood. The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department continues to investigate as the search for the suspects intensifies.
