Man arrested in armed robbery at Mooresville Dollar General

Police identified and arrested 62-year-old David Daniel Hunter in connection with an armed robbery that targeted a Dollar General store on Norman Station Boulevard in Mooresville, North Carolina. The incident, which occurred on Jan. 4, left employees threatened and launched a multijurisdictional investigation after surveillance footage captured the crime.

According to investigators, surveillance video showed a male suspect enter the store, approach employees at gunpoint and force his way into the store office. Authorities said the suspect demanded cash from the safe, took money and the store’s phone, then fled the scene. Investigators later linked the vehicle used in the escape to other armed robberies at Dollar General locations in the surrounding area, prompting a broader probe.

Law enforcement tracked the suspect to Bristol, Virginia, and arrested him on Jan. 7 with assistance from U.S. Marshals. He was booked into the Southwest Virginia Regional Jail and held without bond. Criminal charges filed so far include felony robbery with a dangerous weapon and felony possession of a firearm by a felon. Investigators said additional charges related to other robberies are pending as they continue to review evidence.

For employees at small-format discount retailers, the case is a stark example of the hazards frontline workers can face. The robbery involved direct threats to staff and access to a secured office safe, demonstrating how quickly in-store situations can escalate into violent encounters. Beyond immediate trauma to those present, such incidents can disrupt operations, prompt temporary closures, and lead employers and law enforcement to reassess security and loss prevention measures at affected locations.

The arrest reflects coordinated law enforcement work across jurisdictions, and the pending charges suggest investigators are pursuing links to a wider pattern of robberies. For workers, the episode may renew questions about staffing, training, and protective measures such as safe protocols, panic alarms and the role of store phones during emergencies.

As investigators move forward with potential additional charges, employees and managers at Dollar General stores in the region can expect continued police outreach and possible procedural reviews. The case highlights ongoing tensions between maintaining open, accessible retail environments and protecting the safety of employees who work on the front lines.