CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, Va. (WTVR) - Police are looking for the person who attacked a Chesterfield man at work just hours into the new year.
Family members tell CBS-6 that Earl Spencer, a longtime business owner in Chesterfield County, was opening Spencer's gas station at 5144 Centralia Road about 5:10 a.m. on January 1 when someone walked up from behind and hit him "repeatedly" in the head.
"It’s shocking that it's so close to home,” said Michael King, who lives across the street from the store. “But it happens a lot in the news, so I guess I'm desensitized to it."
Chesterfield Police are working leads, but hoping the public can step forward with information they need.
"We’re hoping since the victim didn't see the assailant, that someone saw something suspicious or a vehicle,” said Lt. David Shand. “There's not a lot of people out that time of morning, but someone knows something."
Police say the suspect fled the scene with cash which law enforcement sources tell me was thousands of dollars.
"I see him quite often,” King said. He says he has waved and spoken to Spencer a few times.
He has a theory about who may have done this to him.
"I think it's someone who knows his movements, who’s close enough to see what he does day by day," said King.
Police are thinking along those lines as well and have a message for other convenience store workers in the area.
"The folks that run these places need to be aware of their surroundings,” said Shand. “Be proactive as far as not keeping a predictable schedule. Make sure your surveillance systems inside and out are up to snuff."
Police asked anyone with information about this crime call the Chesterfield County Police Department at 804-748-1251 or Crime Solvers at 804-748-0660.
