A Nashville gas station clerk has been charged with aggravated assault after shooting a suspected thief who allegedly tried to get away with beer, according to police.
The shooting happened around 2:40 a.m. Friday at the Kwik Sak gas station on Clarksville Pike in Bordeaux.
Authorities said 44-year-old Jerry Smith Jr. got an 18-pack of beer and took it to the counter. When his credit card was declined, police said Smith ran out the door with the beer.
According to police, the clerk, identified as 31-year-old Said Hermina, told investigators the victim alluded to having a gun in his pocket as he tried to steal the beer from the gas station. Hermina shot Smith as he was running away, police said. Reports stated Hermina fired at Smith three times, hitting him in the leg.
A NewsChannel 5 crew at the scene saw a case of Budweiser on the ground outside the store.
Police say the clerk may have thought the man who stole the beer was armed. Police are trying to find out if he had a gun pic.twitter.com/Wv467gjh2f
— Sophie N-K (@SophieNC5) February 9, 2018
Smith was taken to Vanderbilt University Medical Center with a gunshot wound to his thigh. He has since been released. He was charged with misdemeanor theft for taking the beer valued at $17.99.
Police said Hermina has been charged with aggravated assault in the case. They confirmed he was being held on a $10,000 bond.
