A masked man robbed Statesville Tobacco & Vape on Wilkesboro Highway Sunday morning, assaulted an employee, and ran off with cash before anyone could stop him. The worker was hurt badly enough to be taken to the hospital, and as of this week, the attacker is still out there.
According to the Statesville Police Department, officers responded to the shop at 1737 Wilkesboro Highway, Suite G, shortly after 9 a.m. on Sunday, Nov. 8, 2026, after a report of an armed robbery. As reported by qcnews.com, a store employee was assaulted during the robbery and transported to Iredell Memorial Hospital for medical treatment.
Suspect Described as Masked Man in Dark Clothing
The suspect allegedly stole an undisclosed amount of cash before fleeing the scene, the outlet's report notes. Police described him as a Black man wearing a black ski mask and dark-colored clothing, but no further identifying details have been released.
The department's Criminal Investigations Division is now working to identify and locate the suspect, per the same account. Anyone with information is asked to call the Statesville Police Department at 704-878-3406, and anonymous tips can also be submitted through the department's See Something, Say Something portal.
Other Armed Robberies in Statesville
Sunday's robbery is among other armed robberies reported in Statesville. On Jan. 5, 2025, officers responded to an armed robbery at the Dollar General located at 1703 Wilkesboro Highway, according to the City of Statesville. In that case, the suspect forced employees to open the safe and fled on foot with an undisclosed amount of cash, and no employees or customers were injured.
Police also previously investigated an armed robbery at 1924 Newton Drive, where two masked suspects entered the store and one displayed a handgun before both fled on foot and left in a black sedan, according to a separate qcnews.com report. Two suspects were ultimately arrested in that case, and a gun was recovered.
For now, the suspect from Sunday's robbery at the vape shop remains unidentified, and investigators are relying on the public for tips as they work to track him down.
