Robber fires round during North Charleston holdup; may be linked to other crimes

An impatient robber fired a bullet into the wall of a North Charleston convenience store early Thursday before running out of the business empty-handed, police said.

Investigators suspect the same man is responsible for at least three other holdups in the area since June, including one in which a clerk was shot.

Thursday’s incident occurred around 4 a.m. at the Circle K store at 3855 W. Montague Ave. Police said the crime played out this way:

A tall black man with a mask over his face walked into the store carrying a blue duffle bag and pointed a pistol at the clerk. “Put everything in the bag,” he told her.

The robber, who wore camouflage gloves, grew angry with the clerk and shot a round into the wall behind her. He then tossed the duffle bag at her, walked around the counter and threw Newport cigarettes on the floor.

He retrieved his bag and ran toward Interstate 526.

The robber was described as having light black skin. He is about 5 feet 10 inches tall and very thin. He wore a light-colored, button-up, long-sleeve shirt with denim jeans and black shoes.

At one point he removed his mask and revealed sideburns that come down past his ears. He appeared to wear his hair in short dreadlocks or braids.

Investigators think the same man might have robbed the Circle K at 8410 Dorchester Road on July 1; the A-1 Food Store at 4327 Spruill Ave. on June 15; and a Kangaroo store at 3689 Dorchester Road on June 6. In the robbery at the A-1 store, a clerk was shot in the leg, police said.