A woman on her way inside a Gastonia retail store was run over by a man fleeing the scene after an alleged shoplifting.

The incident occurred just after 10 a.m. Wednesday at the Dollar Tree at 2104 W. Franklin Blvd. Joyce Boyce was manning the checkout line when she says she confronted the man in question.

"He had a bunch of stuff under his shirt and was holding it down," Boyce said. "He ran out to the car and he came back in. I was telling the manager about him having the stuff under his shirt. He cussed me and I said, 'I'm not talking to you.'"

The Dollar Tree is known for its expansive selection of items, all for $1 or less.

Boyce didn't know what the man stole, but she said in the process of trying to leave with his family as a manager ran outside, he backed over a regular customer about to come shop.

Kim Ware witnessed the aftermath.

"When I turned around I saw the car on top of her," Ware said. "It had rolled over the back of her... I thought maybe he was just in a hurry to leave. (It was) Ruthless. Cold."

Angel Hogan was sitting in the car waiting to pick up her boyfriend when she says she saw the collision.

If it was a few minutes later, she could've been the one who was struck instead of a witness to the incident.

"That is scary to see something like that," she said. "You have a hard time believing someone would just hit somebody and leave."

The woman was talking after being hit. Her injuries were considered non life-threatening, according to Gaston Emergency Medical Services.

The store's manager got the car's license tag number and was speaking to Gastonia Police, who were investigating the incident.

Boyce says the suspects involved have shoplifted from the store and that the last time it happened, she almost got hurt.

"We're getting used to it around here," she said. "They did that once before and carried a big bag of stuff out. I went to get the tag number and they about ran over me."

Police have responded to at least nine other calls at the store this year, according to available police reports.
