Robber shoots Bojangles' cook 4 times
When two men in ski masks tried to rob him at the trash bin behind the Bojangles' on Monday night, Charles Hamilton thought it was a joke. He didn't even have a dollar in his pockets.
Hamilton, 39, a cook at the fast-food restaurant on Ashley Phosphate Road, was recovering from surgery Tuesday at Medical University Hospital. He was shot four times in the failed robbery attempt and is expected to survive, though he lost a kidney and part of his liver, his family said.
The North Charleston High School graduate who never married or had children was sedated Tuesday evening and unable to speak. But he told his family the story earlier in the day.
Hamilton took out the trash just before closing time and was met near the trash bin by two men wearing camouflage jackets and black ski masks. He smiled because he thought it must be a practical joke, he later told his mother.
But Hamilton quickly learned that the men were serious when they asked him for his money and he told them he had none. One of the men fired a shot from a .22-caliber gun, and the bullet went straight through Hamilton's arm.
As Hamilton tried to run back inside the restaurant, the man shot him three more times in the back, and he fell to the ground. The man chased him down, stood over him and searched his pockets, looking for money. But when he found none, he put the gun to Hamilton's head.
As Hamilton tried to explain that he had no cash, a woman came out of the restaurant and scared the man away, said Hamilton's mother, Louise Hamilton.
Doctors removed two bullets from Charles Hamilton, including one that nicked his liver and struck a kidney. A third bullet cannot be removed at this point because it is too close to his spine, his mother said.
She said she is disheartened that the robbers would target a poor, working man. Hamilton lives several miles from the restaurant with his mother and sister and was riding his bicycle to work until it broke months ago. His boss was helping him with rides, the family said.
"He's a hard worker," said Antonio Wiley, another Bojangles' employee.
Said Hamilton's mother: "I'm just glad they didn't kill him. I don't have any hatred against them, but I would like to see justice done before they do kill someone."
Several other restaurant employees were shot on the job in unrelated incidents last year.
Two managers of the Zaxby's on Rivers Avenue were wounded in gunfire during a robbery at closing time last June. That same month, Pizza Hut delivery driver Wilson James was robbed and shot to death during a late-night run in Summerville. And Jennifer Skurow, the night manager at the Perkins on Rivers Avenue, was shot and killed in October during a closing-time robbery.
Reach Nadine Parks at nparks@postandcourier.com or 937-5573.
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Comments
This article has 19 comment(s)
Posted by MotoryachtSoCo on February 6, 2008 at 6:52 a.m. (Suggest removal)
You need to wake the flip up Charleston!
We need to start offering a bounty on punks like these two. Start firing the donut loving cops, bonus to cops who take out thugs and promote concealed carry.
You wear a ski mask in Charleston and your a dead man if you approach me.
http://cedarposts.blogspot.com
Posted by Hey_U_Guys on February 6, 2008 at 7:29 a.m. (Suggest removal)
How tragic for this hard working man and his family.
Posted by skeeter on February 6, 2008 at 7:45 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I'm with you MotoryachtSoCo!
Posted by charlene68 on February 6, 2008 at 8:38 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Motoryachtsoco... I agree. you have no buisness wearing a ski mask if you are not up to no good... I hope they catch them .... and hope the guy that was shot recovers ok... I tell you I think Charleston streets are getting as bad as the Streets in New York City... maybe worse... this is crazy... so much crime goes on in this area,, it seems like they would do more to target the high crime areas... such as certain parts of Ashley Phosphate,, Rivers ave... park Circle... that is only to name a few... it is only February and look at all the crime that has happened in these areas just since January the 1st. It's really ashame !!!
Posted by RTC on February 6, 2008 at 8:39 a.m. (Suggest removal)
They were either pretty stupid, very desperate, big cowards, or all of the above.
Why would you try to rob the poor guy taking out the trash? The money's inside the building, buttwipes.
The lady that scared them off is very lucky that they didn't take a shot at her.
Posted by CHRISJIII on February 6, 2008 at 9:18 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I'm very glad to hear that the victim was not killed and will survive. I hope that these two knuckleheads are caught soon and before they hurt someone else.Hopefully he will be able to go on with his life.This article gives much more information than the one yesterday did.
Posted by konphidence on February 6, 2008 at 9:28 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I agree with all of the posts today about the pieces of **** that did this horrible crime. But why did the P&C have to describe the gentleman in this manner,
"The North Charleston High School graduate who never married or had children ......"
What in the hell does this have to do with him being shot four times?!
Posted by Girleygirl on February 6, 2008 at 9:32 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Mr. Hamilton I hope and pray that you are able to heal.
These two people that almost executed this man needs to be charged with 1st degree attempted murder and put them under the jail.
Posted by Born_n_raisedowntown on February 6, 2008 at 10:35 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Charlene68 Charleston streets have always been as bad/worse than the streets in New York City.
Some of you people need to go read a book. Even in the 1930s during the time of the Mob and Al Capone, Charleston murder rate was 3 times that of New York and twice that of Chicago.
This past year Charleston murder rate was 21.somethin. North Charleston murder rate was 31.somethin. New York City murder rate was 6.somethin. I dont know why you people think Charleston was such a "nice" city. This violence been goin on for the longest.
Posted by charlene68 on February 6, 2008 at 11:32 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Born n raise downtown.......I know it has been going on ,, It just seems like it has gotten worse
Posted by preachlove on February 6, 2008 at 12:05 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Charlene68 - I agree that violence has been going on in Charleston for a long time, but New York's murder rate in one year was at one time over 2200.
I pulled this article re: NYC murder rate in 2007: NEW YORK (CNN) -- "...The city is expected to fall below 500 murders in 2007, the lowest level for any year since 1963, when comparable information on homicides was first collected, Bloomberg said at a news conference."
If these thugs prey on people working at fast food restuarants who don't make much money, we are facing a serious problem.
Based on the amount of people we have compared to NYC, it's just downright shameful and disgusting the amount of murders we have.
I wish you a speedy recovery Mr. Hamilton.
Posted by preachlove on February 6, 2008 at 12:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Charlene68 - I meant my response for born n raise downtown. My apologies.
Posted by elcid81 on February 6, 2008 at 12:44 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Thank God Mr. Hamilton survived. I hope the two punks are found and taken off the streets. I am willing to assist Mr. Hamilton but need to know if an account is set up in a bank. I would rather give my money to folks like Mr. Hamilton, then to folks who refuse to work. Hopefully some bank will set up an account and this site will publish where we can send money. God bless. Peace to Mr. Hamilton in his recovery. Alanta, GA
Posted by Hey_U_Guys on February 6, 2008 at 2:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Charlene: WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?
Posted by JohnS on February 6, 2008 at 2:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Some late night places serving need to issue bullet proof vest to it's workers as part of the uniform. Perkins, Zaxby's and now Bo jangles.
Posted by Girleygirl on February 6, 2008 at 4:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Contact Bojangles, they may have already setup an account under his name. Not the Bojangles on Ashley Phosphate but the corporate #. I'm sure if corporate hears about this they may be willing to help out as well.
Posted by SomeTruthPlease on February 6, 2008 at 5:54 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I think everyone should pool together a fund to serve as a reward for anyone who comes forward with the information that gets these two inbreds caught and convicted. I wouldn't doubt for a second that they've done it before, at another location, and without a doubt will do the same thing somewhere else. I'm ashamed to say I'm from here, and I'm doubly ashamed to say that I don't own a gun.
Posted by CharlestonsFinest on February 6, 2008 at 9:01 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Did anyone check out "Mr Victim"'s record on the charleston county website...shoplifting fourth offense!
Posted by ricbdragonfly on February 6, 2008 at 9:43 p.m. (Suggest removal)
CHARLESTON TIME TO REGISTER GET A CARRYING LICENCE AND LOCK AND F---IIINNN LOAD I AGREE WITH MOTOR YOU APPROACH ME YOU HAVE THE NERVE TO TAKE FROM A MAN WORKING WTF. HOLLOW POINT TO THESE SCUMBAGS. GET A JOB GET A LIFE. KARMA'S GONNA EAT YOU TILL YOU DIE........