HCPD arrest armed robbery suspect, injured store clerk’s condition unknown

Police arrested one man in connection with an early-morning armed robbery Wednseday where a 35-year-old store clerk was shot, said Lt. Raul Denis, Horry County Police Department spokesman.

Michael James Stenger, 19, of Murrells Inlet, was arrested around 1 p.m. and charged with two counts of armed robbery and one count of attempted murder, Denis said. Horry County police officers, detectives and agents from the fugitive task force took Stenger into custody, Denis said.

Police responded about 2:16 a.m. Wednesday to the Scotchman convenience store at 531 S.C. 544, after getting a hold panic alarm from the store location, Denis said.

Officers found the store clerk suffering from gunshot wounds when they arrived, and a 27-year-old customer had been allegedly robbed at gunpoint, but not shot, police said.

The clerk was taken to the hospital, but his condition was “unknown” as of 3:40 p.m. Wednesday, Denis said.

Police said the robber allegedly took cash from the register and the clerk’s cellphone and wallet.

The 27-year-old customer told police that he pulled up to the store in his car as the robbery inside the store was ending, according to an incident report.

The 27-year-old victim said the alleged robber approached his car while he was still inside, brandished a gun and forced him to hand over his wallet and cellphone, authorities said.

The alleged suspect is said to be a white man, 6 feet tall and 180 pounds, wearing a white t-shirt and black and white Adidas hat and was reportedly driving a dark, midsize Sedan of an unknown make and model, police said.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the police at 248-1520, or leave the information on the tip line at 915-8477.

This story was originally published April 22, 2015 at 9:55 AM with the headline "HCPD arrest armed robbery suspect, injured store clerk’s condition unknown."