Armed Robbery and Attempted Explosion in North Carolina

A man was apprehended in North Carolina on Monday after he held a truck driver at gunpoint and attempted to create an explosion.

Incident Overview

The event started around 9 a.m. in the parking lot next to the Country Market Convenience Store on Startown Road in Maiden, North Carolina.

Confrontation with the Truck Driver

According to WCNC, 54-year-old James Matthew Roland approached a stationary tractor-trailer at the convenience store, aimed a gun at the driver, and ordered him to leave the truck. The truck driver complied and stepped away, allowing Roland to fire several shots into the fuel tanks in an apparent attempt to induce an explosion.

Failed Explosion and Fleeing the Scene

Fortunately, the shots did not ignite an explosion. Roland subsequently fled the scene in his own pickup truck. While police interviewed the truck driver, Roland returned to the crime scene, prompting a pursuit that spanned four miles until his vehicle ran out of gas.

Arrest and Evidence

Roland resisted arrest physically but was ultimately taken into custody. Authorities found a loaded pistol in his pocket and methamphetamine in his pickup truck. During questioning, Roland confessed that he was “attempting to cause a fuel explosion” when he fired the weapon.

Injury Report and Current Status

No injuries were reported as a result of the incident. Additional details regarding the case have yet to be disclosed.