Customer thwarts gunman at drug store

Staff Writer

SOUTH WILLIAMSON — An unidentified man is being hailed as an unsung hero by the owner and employees of Family Pharmacy in South Williamson.

Pharmacist Larry Burnette said although he and the other employees were unaware of what was going on at the time, a man came into the store wearing a mask and carrying a rifle on Monday.

At the time, Burnette said, a customer happened to be standing at the front of the pharmacy when the suspicious-looking man walked into the establishment.

“The man pulled out a gun and the customer noticed it and figured he was up to no good and wrestled the weapon away from him,” Burnette said. “I was busy in the back of the store and the other employees were also busy. We didn’t see anything and didn’t know what had happened until it was over.”

Burnette said he believes the man was there to rob the store although he didn’t get away with anything.

“Why else would he come in here with a rifle and his face covered?”

Burnette said they do have security measures in place.

“When you run a business, you depend on the customers so how do you keep others out?” Burnette said.

The Kentucky State Police were notified and an investigation is ongoing, Burnette said.

“The customer gave the trooper a description of the man but his face was covered so he couldn’t really tell how he looked,” Burnette said.

KSP J. Crase is the investigating officer.

Burnette said he was not comfortable revealing the customer’s name who wrestled the gun away without his permission.

It is unknown if the would be robber left in a vehicle or on foot.

A rash of robberies have occurred in Eastern Kentucky within the past year.