El Paso, Texas — Police are looking for a young man who turned a minor shoplifting attempt into a violent crime after striking a store clerk during a robbery at a Circle K in Central El Paso. Investigators say the incident escalated within seconds, and Crime Stoppers has now highlighted the case as its latest Crime of the Week.
The confrontation happened in the early morning hours when the suspect tried to leave with stolen snacks. What began as a simple theft quickly became a serious offense once the clerk attempted to intervene.
Incident Overview
According to investigators, the robbery took place just before 1 a.m. on Friday, November 21, at the Circle K located at 1915 Cotton Street. A young man walked into the store, picked up several snack items—including a Honey Bun pastry—and then tried to walk out without paying.
When the store clerk confronted him, the situation escalated quickly. Police say the suspect punched the clerk in the head before running out of the store with the stolen items. Officials emphasize that even low-value thefts can become felonies when force is used.
Timeline of Events
The incident unfolded rapidly, beginning with the suspect entering the store shortly before closing hours. After selecting merchandise, he headed toward the exit without attempting to pay…