Grace McAlister
Reporter1@riverbendnews.org
On Friday, Jan. 20, at approximately 4:30 p.m., the Live Oak Police Department (LOPD) responded to Second Chance Thrift Store in reference to a disturbance. Upon arrival, LOPD contacted the store owner, the victim and the suspect, 39-year-old Alphonso Junior Lewis, of Live Oak, in reference to the incident.
The arrest report states Lewis was bringing a piece of furniture out that the victim had purchased. The victim told LOPD that when Lewis got to his truck, he dropped the furniture and broke it. The victim told Lewis he no longer wanted the furniture because of the damages. The victim stated Lewis then became “belligerent and loud and started pointing his fingers in [the victim’s] face.” The victim told Lewis to "back up" and that he "did not need the confrontation.”
While this was occurring, a second customer attempted to hold Lewis back. The arrest report states Lewis then went into the store and returned outside while reaching into his pocket. The victim, who has a background in law enforcement, believed Lewis was in possession of a weapon because he was reaching into his pocket.
While in the store, a witness stated Lewis retrieved a large butcher knife and claimed: "I’m going to kill them." One of the witnesses, a volunteer at the store, stated a woman made multiple attempts to prevent Lewis from exiting the store, and frantically yelled, "Oh my god, he has a knife.” The witness further stated Lewis returned the knife to the shelf and exited the store. The witness told LOPD if the woman had not stopped Lewis, he believes he would have hurt the victim with the knife.
Based on the statements made by the victim and witnisses, Lewis was charged with attempted aggravated battery for retrieving the knife from the shelf, making the statement "I’m going to kill them" and trying to go back outside the store. Additionally, because his actions disrupted the normal operation of the business and caused customers to leave the store, Lewis is being charged with disorderly conduct.