Police arrest suspect accused of shooting, stabbing victims in Kings Mountain robbery

KINGS MOUNTAIN, N.C. — Police said they arrested the suspect who shot one person and stabbed three others in a violent store robbery in Kings Mountain.

Investigators said they were able arrest the suspect Thursday afternoon after a chase that ended in a crash on Lavender Road in Grover.

[SURVEILLANCE IMAGES: Shooting, stabbing during robbery in Kings Mountain]

Police said Ricky Smith is charged with four counts of attempted murder, assault with a deadly with intent to kill, kidnapping, larceny of a motor vehicle and robbery with a dangerous weapon.

Smith is expected to appear in court Friday afternoon.

Chopper 9 Skyzoom flew over the Smoke Shop on York Road Wednesday, where the alleged robbery happened.

Witnesses told Channel 9 the owner of the Smoke Shop was stabbed in the leg. Another man was stabbed in the abdomen.

Witnesses said the man who was shot somehow managed to make his way across the street to the Dollar Tree, where he collapsed on the sidewalk.

Police said they received a 911 call from the store at 12:52 p.m.

A neighboring business owner, who did not want to be identified, said a woman with blood on her hands came over, asking for his help.

He said the attacker got into the store owner’s SUV, and a Kings Mountain officer who arrived on scene confronted him with his gun drawn.

“He aimed his gun like he was trained to do,” the witness said. “Said ‘Get out of the car and get on the ground.’ Slammed the door and drove off.”

The man said it appeared the officer didn’t know the man he confronted was the suspected robber.

The police chief told Channel 9 his team is short-staffed, so they have turned the case over the State Bureau of Investigation.

Police said the suspect took off in a 2018 burgundy Rav 4 with a North Carolina 30-day registration plate.

Two victims were in critical condition Wednesday night.

There was a $1,000 reward for information leading to the arrest.

Officials said Smith was taken to the hospital after he crashed.

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