Woman savagely beaten by intruder
Five men storm into residence, then rob adjacent convenience store
By TIM GULLA Ledger Staff Writer tim@gaffneyledger.com

Gaffney Police Chief John O'Donald (left) confers with Detective Capt. Chris Skinner and Det. Sgt. Ron Ramsey outside the Corner Stop #2 convenience store on Providence Road. A group of home invaders broke into an adjacent house, where they robbed a woman, took keys to the store and then entered the business to steal cash boxes.

Gaffney police and Cherokee County Sheriff's Office tracking team members went on a manhunt Wednesday after a 32-year-old woman was robbed and beaten during a vicious home invasion.

It was believed that five men, all wearing dark clothing and attire that covered their faces, broke into a Providence Road home at about 2:20 a.m. Wednesday where they held a 32-year-old woman at gun and knifepoint while they ransacked her home and then stole her keys to an adjacent convenience store.

The intense manhunt continued Thursday with the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division joining the investigation.

According to a police report that contained the 32-year-old woman's account, one of the robbers fired three or four shots from a weapon as they entered her bedroom. Another knocked a phone out of the woman's hand as she tried to call police and then grabbed her from behind, putting his arm around her throat.

After obtaining the woman's keys to the Corner Stop #2 convenience store at 717-719 Providence Road, at least one of the home invaders stayed with the woman while the others took the stolen keys to gain access to the business.

When those men went inside the store and triggered a security alarm, the woman told police the man holding her began hitting her in the head and face.

When she was knocked to the floor, the assailant continued beating her in the back and side.

When police arrived, they found the woman with a cut over her left eye and her face swollen. She also was bleeding from the left side of her head.

Despite her injuries, police said the woman refused to go to the hospital by ambulance and instead was taken there in a personal car. Police later were informed by Upstate Carolina Medical Center the woman had a small bleed on her brain.

Still hospitalized Thursday, the woman was listed in stable condition.

Police confirmed on Thursday the woman wasn't the only one injured in the robbery and assault. The woman's small pet dog apparently was kicked by one of the robbers and sustained a broken leg. The dog is now under the care of a veterinarian.

An employee at the Corner Stop #2 said she couldn't talk about the incident.

Despite being surrounded by police cars, the convenience store remained busy throughout Wednesday morning as patrons came and went.

According to police, the robbers stole an undetermined amount of cash and jewelry from the woman's home, as well as her passport, check card and keys. An undetermined amount of cash was taken from the cash register at the convenience store, along with two cash boxes.