Sunday night in Hickory Hill, a quiet closing shift at a Family Dollar turned into a made-for-TV heist. Around 9:10 p.m., a man walked into the store on Winchester Road, casually asked an employee if the place was still open, then stepped back outside.
A little more than a minute later, he came back through the door in a black ski mask and holding a handgun. According to police, he threatened to shoot the employee, demanded money, and took off on foot with an undetermined amount of cash. The robbery unfolded at the Winchester Road location near Ridgeway Road, and has officers working to track him down.
Police share suspect description and call for leads
According to the Memphis Police Department, officers responded to the robbery at 6222 Winchester Road. The suspect is described as a medium-built Black male who, during the holdup, wore a black ski mask, a black hoodie, gray jeans, and black-and-white shoes. Investigators say he first entered the store without a mask, then returned masked and armed before fleeing with cash. Anyone with information is urged to call CrimeStoppers at 901-528-CASH.
Local report firms up the timeline
Action News 5 reports that the man initially walked in without a mask, asked whether the store was open, and left, only to come back roughly a minute later wearing the mask and carrying the gun. That account puts the holdup at about 9 p.m., which lines up with the police report on the incident.
Family Dollar and other discount stores keep getting hit
Local outlets have documented a recent run of cases at Family Dollar shops and similar discount retailers, with police repeatedly asking residents to share what they know. As these low-staffed outlets can be easy targets for quick armed robberies, leaving workers to deal with the aftermath while detectives try to piece together who is behind each hit.
How to help investigators
Police are asking anyone who recognizes the man or has video from the area that might show the suspect to contact CrimeStoppers at 901-528-CASH or submit a tip online. Tips can be left anonymously and, officials say, could be crucial in identifying the person seen running from the Winchester Road Family Dollar.
