The 29-year-old clerk survived because the gun jammed. He used the opportunity to fight the suspect and flee the store at 9210 Cincinnati-Columbus Road, Tombragel said,
“He’s very lucky. The intent was clear. His intent was to kill him,” Tombragel said.
Ravencraft is being held on $1 million bond in the Butler County Jail. He was arrested, after an “intensive investigation,” early Wednesday along U.S. 42, Tombragel said.
He was charged with one count of aggravated robbery, a first-degree felony, and one count of attempted murder, a second-degree felony.
Police identified Ravencraft, who allegedly stole a pack a cigarettes, using the victim’s statements and surveillance video of the robbery, Tombragel said.
Police also said Ravencraft lives near the gas station and is a “known person in the area” who has a criminal history that includes convictions in Ohio and New Jersey for crimes such as burglary, disorderly conduct, resisting, domestic violence and tampering with records, but “nothing as serious as this,” Tombragel said.
Tombragel called the robbery senseless and commended the clerk for fighting for his life.
“I can imagine the fear inside the victim. When someone is faced with that the fear can be overwhelming,” Tombragel said.
“He had to decide whether he was going to be a victim or whether he was going to fight. He chose to fight.”
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