MILESFORTIS

Store clerk in Beaumont shoots suspect who attacked her during robbery

BEAUMONT — A justice of the peace has set bond at $250,000 for a Beaumont man accused of attacking a store clerk during a robbery Friday night.

Beaumont police say the store clerk shot 62-year-old William Coleman after he attacked her at Everest Food Mart in the 2800 block of Eastex Freeway.

Police responded to the store around 11:30 p.m. Friday.

Police say the store clerk called 911 and reported a robbery in progress.

As officers were on the way to the store, the store clerk told police dispatch that she had shot the robber after he displayed a knife and attacked her.

When police arrived, they found the wounded suspect.

Paramedics transported him to the hospital with serious injuries.

Detectives have obtained an aggravated Robbery warrant for Coleman.

Once he is released from the hospital, officers will transport him to the Jefferson County Jail.

The store clerk suffered several minor injuries during the attack.

Justice of the Peace Ben Collins, Sr., set bond at $250,000 for the aggravated robbery charge.

The robbery investigation is ongoing.