A 36-year-old Lancaster man is facing an aggravated robbery charge after police say he stole items from a DeSoto convenience store and then attacked the clerk and an intervening customer with a razor blade late Monday night, cutting his own hand in the process. DeSoto Police responded to the 1500 block of the North I-35E frontage road at approximately 10:25 p.m. on Monday after a caller reported people fighting near the storefront.
According to the DeSoto Police Department, officers arriving at the scene observed several individuals in the parking lot and found a man suffering heavy bleeding to his right hand. That man was identified as Willie James Richardson III, a Lancaster resident, whom witnesses identified as the alleged offender. Officers detained Richardson at the scene, and the department says he was charged with aggravated robbery.
A Theft That Turned Violent
Witnesses told police that Richardson stole several items from inside the store before the confrontation began. Police say he then retrieved a razor from his vehicle and attacked the store clerk and an intervening customer with it. Both the clerk and the customer suffered minor defensive injuries during the struggle, per the department’s account, while Richardson cut himself with the same razor during the attack.
Officers arranged medical treatment for Richardson at the scene before he was transported to a local hospital for further care. He was later released and transferred into custody to face the felony charge. Under Texas Penal Code Section 29.03, aggravated robbery is a first-degree felony punishable by five to 99 years or life in prison, along with a fine of up to $10,000.
How a Razor Becomes a Deadly Weapon Under Texas Law
The elevated charge stems from how Texas law treats everyday objects used as weapons. Under Texas Penal Code Section 1.07(a)(17), a deadly weapon is defined broadly as anything that, in the manner of its use or intended use, is capable of causing death or serious bodily injury — a definition broad enough to cover a razor blade in the right circumstances. That statutory framework is what allowed what began as an alleged shoplifting incident to escalate into a first-degree felony charge…