Malpass General Store robbed Wednesday night

A robbery outside the Malpass General Store in Currie Wednesday night could be related to the beating of an elderly Rocky Point store owner earlier in the week, according to the Pender County Sheriff’s Office.

“There are some similarities, but there are some differences,” Capt. Jamie Ezzell said. “It may be the same people, and we’re hoping we can get them arrested.”

An employee of the Malpass General Store was robbed of $40 of his personal cash at 9:17 p.m. Wednesday by two men with shotguns as the employee closed the store, according to Ezzell.

Another man was acting as the driver. The three men sped away in a white Jeep Cherokee.

In the incident earlier this week, Frederick “Jackie” Sparkman, the 76-year-old owner of The Country Store on NC 133 in Rocky Point, was beaten by three masked men armed with handguns in his store as he tried to give them money from the cash register.

The men fled with $55 in cash and $65 worth of cigarettes after giving Sparkman a broken sternum and head injuries that required 15 stitches.

Sparkman was not able to give details on the men’s appearance or the vehicle they drove.

Both incidents are under investigation by the Pender County Sheriff’s Office.