Gastonia officer shoots, injures man attacking store clerk

GASTONIA, NC (AP) — A Gastonia police officer shot and wounded a man who was attacking a convenience store clerk.

Police tell local media outlets that Detective Jeff Wooten was inside the store at around 10:30 Saturday night when he saw someone attacking the clerk with a knife.

Police say the officer confronted the man and shot him.

The man was seriously injured and was taken to a hospital. The store clerk was also hospitalized with several stab wounds.

As is standard procedure in shootings involving officers, Wooten has been put on paid leave. The 51-year-old detective has been with the department since 1988.

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