STANTON, Ky. (LEX 18) — A man has been arrested after police say he robbed a convenience store and fired a gunshot, leading to a standoff with officers.
The City of Stanton Police Department says it happened Tuesday shortly before 8:30 a.m. at the Airport Market.
Police say they were called to the scene after a report of a man firing a gun inside the store.
"Shock, terror. It was awful," said Shelby Estes, a Powell County resident who says she was standing about one foot from the suspect, Craig Worm, when he fired that bullet.
Estes and her son were escorted by police to a staging area several feet away from the gas pumps where Worm, according to another witness, was on his knees with the gun pointed at his head.
"When he went down with the gun, it was terrifying," said Brenda White, who offered LEX 18 the video she recorded of the incident.
After nearly an hour of negotiations with him, he exited the vehicle and surrendered to law enforcement.
Investigators later learned Worm was fleeing South Dakota after allegations of a sexual assault of a minor. Police say he intentionally committed a robbery in order to trigger a law enforcement response and had intentions to attempt suicide by cop. No one was hurt.
Worm is charged with robbery and six counts of first-degree wanton endangerment.
Stanton police and the Powell County Sheriff’s office arrived within minutes of receiving the 911 call from an Airport Market employee.
"All the incidents that happen these days, you hear people going in and shooting. We were pretty lucky. He could've done anything," said Airport Market owner, Sam Waraich.
Worm reportedly went inside for cigarettes and another item when an apparent disagreement with a store clerk led him to discharge his weapon. He is being lodged in the Powell County Detention Center.
