Brave 7-Eleven Clerk Fired for Self-Defense Shooting
A courageous 7-Eleven clerk in Oklahoma found herself in a harrowing situation when a customer attempted to strangle her and threatened her life. Stephanie Dilyard, a 25-year-old mother of three, was working alone at the Oklahoma City 7-Eleven in the early hours of Nov. 14 when a man entered the store and tried to use a counterfeit $100 bill to pay for items, as reported by KOKH.
When Dilyard confronted the man about the fake bill, he became aggressive and started making threats towards her. The situation quickly escalated as he began throwing objects at her and eventually grabbed her by the neck. Feeling her life was in danger, Dilyard made a split-second decision to defend herself by using her own gun to shoot the assailant.
The suspect, identified as Kenneth Thompson, fled the scene after being shot in the stomach, but was later apprehended and charged with multiple offenses including assault and battery, threatening violence, and attempting to pass counterfeit currency.
Authorities determined that Dilyard’s actions were justified under Oklahoma’s stand-your-ground law, which allows individuals to use deadly force when facing a serious threat to their safety. Despite being cleared by the police, Dilyard was shocked to learn that she was fired by her employer just days after the incident for violating company policy.
Dilyard, who had been working the overnight shift at the convenience store for over two years, expressed her disappointment at losing her job but emphasized that her priority was ensuring her own safety and returning home to her children. She launched a GoFundMe campaign to help support her family during this challenging time and stood by her decision to defend herself.
The former clerk highlighted the lack of security measures in place at the store, including the prohibition of self-defense weapons like mace, which led her to carry a gun for protection. She urged other women to prioritize their safety and be prepared to defend themselves in dangerous situations.
As the story of Stephanie Dilyard continues to unfold, the debate over self-defense rights and workplace safety for convenience store employees gains momentum. The incident serves as a reminder of the importance of personal safety and the need for policies that empower individuals to protect themselves in life-threatening situations.
