PITT COUNTY, N.C. – Dramatic surveillance footage captured the terrifying moment an armed suspect chased a woman into a convenience store in broad daylight Friday, only to be stopped by two quick-thinking employees who physically restrained him as she escaped over the counter.
The incident unfolded just before noon at the Kash and Karry on East Hanrahan Road near Grifton. According to the Pitt County Sheriff’s Office, shots were fired during what authorities described as a domestic situation. No injuries were reported.
Security camera footage obtained by local outlets and widely shared shows the woman racing into the store and leaping over the counter toward the back. Moments later, a man clutching a handgun follows her inside. Two male employees immediately confront him near a green door, wrestling him back and preventing him from pursuing her further.
The confrontation is intense and physical. The employees hold the armed man long enough for the woman to reach safety. The suspect eventually broke free and fled the scene on foot.
Suspect identified as manhunt continues
Authorities identified the gunman as 27-year-old Canyjzi Johnson of Nashville, North Carolina. He is charged with attempted first-degree murder and is considered armed and dangerous. Deputies said he was last seen wearing a black shirt and pants in the Hanrahan Road and Weyerhaeuser Road area.
A white Ford pickup truck believed to belong to Johnson was towed from the area. East Hanrahan Road was closed for several hours Friday afternoon as tactical teams searched but later reopened. As of Saturday morning, the manhunt remained active and Johnson had not been taken into custody.
Sheriff’s officials urged residents in the area to stay indoors, lock their doors and windows, and report any sightings immediately. “Do not approach,” authorities stressed.
Anyone with information is asked to call 911 or the Pitt County Sheriff’s Office at 252-830-4141. Tips can also be submitted anonymously to Pitt-Greenville Crime Stoppers.
The footage has drawn widespread attention online, with many praising the store workers for their courage in intervening against an armed suspect. In an era when many people look the other way, these two men put themselves in harm’s way to protect a woman in distress.
