Johnston County, N.C. — Johnston County investigators say they believe that the shootings of two clerks at convenience stores 8½ miles apart in less than 20 minutes Wednesday evening are related.

Sheriff Steve Bizzell said that an 18-year-old store clerk was shot at the Shop 'N Go, at N.C. Highway 42 and N.C. Highway 222 West, in Stancil’s Chapel around 8:45 p.m. At 9:04 p.m., a 62-year-old clerk was at the Shop 'N Go in the 13000 block of N.C. Highway 39, west of Zebulon.

Co-workers identified the 62-year-old victim as Wesley Davis, and investigators said the 18-year-old victim is the nephew of the store owner.

Both victims were taken to WakeMed in Raleigh. Witnesses described their injuries as serious.

In both cases, two armed men entered the store, demanded money, fired gunshots and then fled, authorities said. Investigators have vague descriptions of the robbers, who are still at large.

Christy Funk, who works at and lives next door to the store on N.C. 39, said that Davis called her after the shooting, while a customer called 911. She found Davis lying on the floor.

"He was holding his neck. Blood was everywhere," she said. "I went behind the cash register, try to help him out. And he acted like he was OK. He was comprehending very well."

Funk said that Davis was shot in the neck. He told her that he tried to grab the gun of one of the robbers before he was shot.

Customer Louis Salah was having dinner at the Shop 'N Go on N.C. 42.

"I heard the guy, the suspect, telling the cashier to hand him the money," Salah said. "I thought it was a joke, so I looked over and saw him pointing the gun at the cashier.

"I heard two shots, and then I hit the floor," he added.

Acquaintances of both victims said they aren't people who sought trouble.

"He's friendly with everybody. He would be the last person who has problems with anybody," Salah said, of the 18-year-old.

"It's bad. I don't understand why anyone would do such a thing anyway," Funk said.

Locations of the shootings

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