A Missouri gas station that sold a record-breaking $893.5 million Powerball ticket last year is back in the headlines after two women allegedly attacked an off-duty police officer working security, and one tried to take his handgun.
The confrontation happened around 2:30 a.m. Sunday, October 11, at the QuikTrip at 12110 Lusher Road in Spanish Lake, just outside St. Louis. Video of the encounter has circulated widely on Facebook, attracting more than 1.5 million views, according to First Alert 4.
Shaniya Lewis and Nayonna Griffin, both 20, now face felony assault and resisting-arrest charges. Police say Lewis repeatedly punched the officer while Griffin stomped on his head. Lewis also allegedly tried to remove his handgun from its holster.
The officer was a member of the Hillsdale Police Department working an off-duty assignment for a private security company. His department said he suffered minor injuries and was recovering at home following the confrontation.
The Confrontation Takes a Turn
Embedded media follows; please allow a moment for it to load.
According to a St. Louis County Police Department statement provided to Guessing Headlights, Griffin began throwing items at the officer, prompting him to approach her. Lewis intervened, struggled with him, and threw him to the ground.
While he was down, Lewis allegedly punched him repeatedly as Griffin stomped on his head. During the struggle, Lewis allegedly reached down and grabbed the officer’s firearm but could not remove it from its holster.
When responding officers arrived, Griffin allegedly continued grabbing the injured officer’s hair, kicking, attempting to run, and keeping her hands away from officers trying to handcuff her.
The footage has prompted questions from viewers about the officer’s actions and what started the dispute. Hillsdale Police told First Alert 4 that investigators were aware of additional video, although the available reporting has not established what preceded Griffin throwing items.
The officer was taken to a hospital for treatment. Hillsdale Police later told First Alert 4 that he was expected to return to work within days.
St. Louis County prosecutors charged both women with second-degree assault of a special victim and resisting or interfering with a felony arrest. Both are being held at the St. Louis County Justice Center on separate $100,000 cash-only bonds, without a 10% option, according to police.
Another Close Call at the Same Store
Just 99 days earlier, another off-duty police officer working security at this QuikTrip exchanged gunfire with a suspect in the parking lot.
On July 4, Brandon Green, 40, allegedly fired at his sister and nephew from a vehicle driven by his wife. According to First Alert 4’s reporting on a St. Louis County Police affidavit, an off-duty Riverview police officer intervened, and Green allegedly fired toward him.
The officer returned fire, and nobody was injured. Prosecutors charged Green with multiple felonies, including assault and armed criminal action.
The July shooting and October assault involved different defendants and officers from different departments. Both incidents, however, occurred at the same business while off-duty police officers were providing security.
All parties are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.