Robbery suspect in custody
by Melanie Marshall
An Appalachian State University student is in custody after a
robbery attempt at Lowes Foods in the New Market Centre Wednesday afternoon.
Sgt. Matt Stevens of the Boone Police Department said a man entered the grocery store at 12:30 p.m. He approached an express lane cashier and attempted to make a small purchase, but did not have money to complete the transaction.
The man walked away as other customers went through the line before approaching the cashier a second time. Stevens said the suspect asked the cashier if she had access to a security alarm before stating he had a gun and a knife and wanted all of the money out of the register.
A store manager walked up to the cashier and the man left the store. Lowes grocery employees were able to obtain a license number from the man's vehicle and reported the incident.
The weapons were not displayed at any time during the incident.
An alert was issued and a vehicle matching the description was stopped by a N.C. Highway Patrol trooper on Locust Street a short time later.
ASU student Christopher Collins Beauchamp, 22, of Charlotte, is being held on a $20,000 secured bond at the Watauga County Detention Center on a charge of felony attempted robbery with a dangerous weapon.
Sgt. Matt Stevens of the Boone Police Department said a man entered the grocery store at 12:30 p.m. He approached an express lane cashier and attempted to make a small purchase, but did not have money to complete the transaction.
The man walked away as other customers went through the line before approaching the cashier a second time. Stevens said the suspect asked the cashier if she had access to a security alarm before stating he had a gun and a knife and wanted all of the money out of the register.
A store manager walked up to the cashier and the man left the store. Lowes grocery employees were able to obtain a license number from the man's vehicle and reported the incident.
The weapons were not displayed at any time during the incident.
An alert was issued and a vehicle matching the description was stopped by a N.C. Highway Patrol trooper on Locust Street a short time later.
ASU student Christopher Collins Beauchamp, 22, of Charlotte, is being held on a $20,000 secured bond at the Watauga County Detention Center on a charge of felony attempted robbery with a dangerous weapon.