Staff Writer

Deputies are looking for two men who may have been plotting a convenience store robbery Tuesday night.

A man told Cpl. Scott Ruby and Deputy Thom McAbee that he was outside L'iL Cricket on 1241 South Duncan By-Pass waiting on his girlfriend to close the store shortly before midnight. He heard voices on the side of the building. He said he walked toward the voices and saw a man wearing a ski mask. The masked man saw him and ran.

The man making the report said that as he turned to tell his girlfriend to call 911, he saw another man peeking through the front window on the other side of the store. This person also ran when approached. Then, both suspects were seen running behind Lewis Funeral Home. Before they ran out of sight, the taller man who was wearing the ski mask pulled a gun and fired several shots into the air.

The clerk told officers she also saw movement in the front window during the disturbance but was unable to identify the person her boyfriend had approached.

Lt. Al Black said both deputies and Union Public Safety officers were in the area when the call came in. City officers reported hearing shouting but no gunshots. Officers were unable to locate any empty shell casings around the area.

A store surveillance video showed a man peeking through the front window before he was approached by the clerk's girlfriend.

Union County EMS was called to the scene after the clerk's boyfriend, who was very upset, stated he was having chest pains and breathing difficulties.

Theft

On 406 Mt. Joy Church Road, a victim told Deputy Roxie Belue Monday that someone took her purse from inside her mother's 1997 Honda. The car was unlocked. The purse contained $300 cash. Words of profanity were scratched into the car, causing an estimated $950 damage.