Cops: Man attacked woman, tried to burn her at Brookhaven gas station

A man is accused of beating a woman he followed outside a Shell gas station in Brookhaven, according to a police report.

The man and woman, identified as J. Pendexter, were inside the convenience store Tuesday when the man cut in front of her, police said. Pendexter eventually made her purchase, but shortly after exiting the store she was ambushed and pushed to the ground by the man, police said.

The suspect choked Pendexter and punched her in the face several times, according to the report. At one point, the man allegedly attempted to set her face on fire.

Pendexter was able to fight the man off as two bystanders assisted, police said.

Police have not said if they arrested the suspect, who is described as weighing between 175 and 200 pounds with a height between 6-foot and 6-foot-2.

Pendexter, who told police she did not know the man or interact with him, had redness on her left cheek, a scrape on her hand and redness on the left side of her upper back.

A cup the man had in his hand was recovered from the scene.