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Christian Thornton: Teen Attacked By Cashier During Botched Robbery To Remain In Jail

By Leigh Egan
Published on: 23:37 PST, Mar 5, 2016

Christian Dakota Thornton, a teen accused of attempting to rob a convenience store in Burke County, Georgia, remains in jail this weekend after a judge denied bond. The teen made headlines last week after a cashier beat him over the head with a cash register drawer before he fled away on foot.

News 12 reports that Thornton, 17, faces charges of criminal attempt armed robbery, aggravated assault and possession of a firearm during a crime, after trying to rob the Keysville Convenience Store in Keysville, Georgia, on Tuesday morning. Surveillance footage shows a teen, who’s been identified by authorities as Thornton, approaching a cashier at around 11 a.m. He wore a grey hoodie and had a handgun tucked beneath it, out of view.

After paying for a can of soda, Thornton allegedly pulled his gun out and demanded that the cashier give him all of the money in the register. Things took an interesting turn for the would-be robber when the cashier stopped Thornton in his tracks.

Instead of complying with the teen, the female cashier, Bhumika Patel, decided to fight back. She immediately began grabbing for the gun, and while Thornton was momentarily stunned, she hit him over the head with the cash register drawer.

As Thornton fled the store, Patel chased after him with a hammer, but the teen managed to escape, at least briefly. Burke County deputies arrested Thornton on March 4 at around 7:35 p.m. at a home in Richmond County. As he stood facing a judge later that night, he learned that he’ll remain in jail for now.

Christian Dakota Thornton, 17, remains behind bars after a botched armed robbery. (Photo by Burke County Sheriff's Office)
Christian Dakota Thornton, 17, remains behind bars after a botched armed robbery. [Photo by Burke County Sheriff’s Office]

Patel is now touted as a local hero in Keysville. Patrons gathered around to watch the video, clearly impressed with her courage. When questioned about her decision to defend herself, Patel said that her faith gave her the strength to stand up to Thornton.

“I just believe strongly in my religion and my God, if he wants to save me, nobody can touch me. That’s why I’m like, ‘No.’ I have my God everywhere with me.”

The cashier also indicated that if she had it to do all over again, she would do the same thing. She stated that she can’t sit by and let her family business get robbed without at least attempting to fight back.

“My city, my country going broke, because he robs.”

Karen Simpson, a Burke County resident who visited the store the same day, recalled seeing Thornton running from the store, being chased by a hammer-wielding Patel. She admitted that she laughed after watching the video, relieved that Thornton was scared away without getting a penny.

“Her first thought thought was just to grab that cash drawer and start beating him with it and just push the gun away. I think it startled the crap out of him. I think that was the last thing he expected…..When I watched it the first time, all I could do was laugh. Then the feeling set in that I was just thankful she wasn’t hurt, and then I laughed again.”

Although Thornton wasn’t injured, he lost his shoes while trying to run out of the store. Aside from a few scratches, Patel said she wasn’t injured either.

“Just a little bit of a scratch here. Three nails lose. That’s it.”

Although authorities advise against handling an attempted robbery the way Patel did, her actions, along with full color surveillance footage, helped them arrest Christian Dakota Johnson. So far it’s unclear whether he has any prior convictions, but the teen can face up to 20 years in prison if convicted on the attempted armed robbery count alone.

[Image via Burke County Sheriff’s Office]

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