Men shot, arrested after store burglary

AIKEN -- The Aiken County Sheriff's Office said today that it will seek warrants for the arrest of two Trenton. S.C., men in connection with a convenience store burglary Monday night.

ADVERTISEMENT

Have a thought? Go to the Forums or Chat.

Subscribe  E-mail this story  Write a letter to the Editor  Printer-friendly version  Get news on your PDA  Get e-mail headlines

Twin Lakes Grocery, 1230 Bettis Academy Rd Click on map for a larger image. Mapquest

Efrem L. Nipper, 37, of Jacob Mackie Road, and Trah Best, 25, of Lloyd Road, will face charges of second-degree burglary, sheriff's Lt. Michael Frank said in a news release.

Robert McFerrin, the owner of Twin Lakes Food Mart at 1230 Bettis Academy Road, shot both men with a shotgun after they kicked open the front door of the store and tried to remove seven cases of beer at about 10:45 p.m., police said.

"Although the victim was defending his property, we still have to check with the Solicitor's Office for guidance in this case," Sheriff Michael Hunt said in a statement.

Deputies found one of the men lying on the ground. He had a gunshot wound to the left shoulder, Lt. Frank said.

The Aiken Bloodhound Team traced the second man to a car, which he had driven to Edgefield County. He called 911 to report that he had been shot, police said.

Aiken and Edgefield County Emergency Medical Services took the men to Medical College of Georgia Hospital.

Reach Betsy Gilliland at (803) 648-1395 or betsy.gilliland@augustachronicle.com.

--From the Tuesday, April 26, 2005 online edition of the Augusta Chronicle