News
News

WATCH: Family Dollar employees try to ‘trap’ armed man during robbery

The cashiers tried to use their body weight to trap the gunman, but police say he got away before officers arrived.
By Steve Burns
March 1, 2018

Some employees at a Family Dollar store in DeKalb County teamed up to try to “trap” a man who held up the store at gunpoint, Channel 2 Action News reported.

About 9 p.m. Monday, a man in a black hoodie and black hat pretended to buy something at the store on Gresham Road, surveillance video showed. But then he pulled a gun on the cashier when the register was open.

Then he grabbed the cash and tried to get away, the station reported.

But the employees noticed and tried to hold the door closed from the outside. However, the gunman was able to force the door open and escape, picking up his phone that he had dropped.

“I wouldn’t have held the door,” customer Loriana Ridley said a few days later after seeing the video. “I just feel like it’s not worth it, it’s not worth a life ... it’s monetary.”

MORE: Atlanta crime news

In other news:

The Dalton High School teacher faces a number of charges, including aggravated assault.

About the Author

Steve Burns
More Stories

Keep Reading

The city of Brookhaven's mayor and City Council last week decided to remove the colored panes of glass from the dome of Brookhaven's new City Centre after residents objected to the brightness of the colors, seen here Friday, June 27, 2025. (Reed Williams/AJC)

Credit: Reed Williams/AJC

Brookhaven removes colored glass from City Centre dome after uproar

Some say the colors were too bright, the dome looked like ice cream with sprinkles and the hues distracted from the building’s muted design.

‘Big Beautiful Bill’ strikes fear in Georgia’s clean energy, EV sectors

If the Senate's One Big Beautiful Bill Act passes, it would eliminate tax credits for EV purchases and installing solar panels and end subsidies for clean energy companies

Sneaker Con draws masses to Atlanta for shoes and status

One Sneaker Con attendee Saturday in Atlanta said: 'Once you have that rush of buying, buying, buying, it’s like a drug. You can’t stop.'

The Latest

Georgia Sens. Jon Ossoff (left) and Raphael Warnock — along with the other 45 members in the Democratic caucus — opposed the reconciliation bill that passed the Senate on Tuesday. The wide-ranging package extends tax cuts and slashes federal spending on safety net programs.

Credit: Ben Hendren for the AJC

A.M. ATL: Energy zap

Brookhaven removes colored glass from City Centre dome after uproar

‘Big Beautiful Bill’ strikes fear in Georgia’s clean energy, EV sectors

Featured

Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D. (center) is flanked by GOP whip Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo. (left) and Finance Committee Chairman Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, as Thune speak to reporters at the Capitol in Washington on Tuesday, July 1, 2025. Earlier Tuesday, the Senate passed the budget reconciliation package of President Donald Trump's signature bill of big tax breaks and spending cuts. (J. Scott Applewhite/AP)

Credit: AP

Senate GOP passes budget bill Democrats describe as ‘a catastrophe’

Republicans in the U.S. Senate have passed the “big, beautiful bill” championed by President Donald Trump, with Vice President JD Vance casting the tiebreaking vote.

State Farm Arena top 5 globally in box office — behind only Sphere, MSG in U.S.

State Farm Arena brought in about $76.2 million across 60 events.

At a store that never closes, an armed comedian keeps the midnight watch

At JJ Food Mart on the west side of Atlanta, an armed comedian keeps the midnight watch. If you misbehave, Connell Daniels Jr. might put you on Instagram.