An armed robbery early Monday morning at the BP station at 450 North Glynn Street in Fayetteville left the store’s employee injured after being beaten in the head with a metal pipe. A Fayette County man was arrested a short time later in south Fulton County and has been charged with the armed robbery and aggravated assault.
William Paul, 33, of Hilo Road south of Fayetteville, was charged with armed robbery, aggravated assault and battery, according to Fayetteville Det. Mike Whitlow.
Whitlow said Paul approached the BP store clerk outside the store at approximately 1:20 a.m. and demanded cash from the register.
“The clerk refused and attempted to defend himself by fighting with Paul,” Whitlow said. “Paul produced a metal pipe and struck the clerk several times in the head and face.”
Whitlow said Paul entered the store and took two cash drawers containing an undetermined amount of cash.
The clerk called 911 after the robbery and was subsequently taken to Atlanta Medical Center where he remains in good condition, said Whitlow.
Paul was arrested by Fulton County Police after he robbed a Waffle House restaurant approximately three hours later, Whitlow said.
Whitlow said Fayette County deputies who were assisting Fayetteville officers with the investigation heard the Fulton County call and responded to assist Fulton deputies. Fayette deputies relayed the information about the suspect to Fayetteville investigators, Whitlow said.
“After viewing video from the Fayetteville store it was determined that Paul was the same suspect in the Fayetteville robbery,” Whitlow said.
A search warrant was executed at Paul’s residence by investigators from Fayetteville and Fayette County. The search resulted in several pieces of evidence being located, said Whitlow.
Whitlow thanked the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office and the Fulton County Police Dept. for their assistance in the case.
