During his night rounds in mid-July, Tim Jamieson hears a gunshot and breaking glass from Zoney’s Go-Mart, the only 24-hour business in town. He runs toward the store and sees two young white men flee to a compact car and speed off. Tim radios dispatcher Wendy Gullickson with a quick suspect description, a likely vehicle make (Chevy Cruze), and a partial North Carolina plate (WTB-9***), urging immediate alert to local patrols and State Police.

Inside Zoney’s, Tim finds one of the Somali brothers who work nights, Absimil Dobira, shot and gasping, with the counter shattered and the register open. He calls for an ambulance from Dunning and uses his tee-shirt to apply pressure, then improvises a chest seal with Vaseline and a disposable diaper to help Absimil breathe, suspecting a lung clip but hoping to prevent collapse.

Sheriff John Ashworth arrives in partial uniform, takes over radio contact, and confirms Absimil’s identity. As they wait for the ambulance, Wendy reports that Deputy Bill Wicklow has located the suspects on Deep Meadow Road. The suspects attempt to flee and ditch the car; one breaks an arm, and the other is cuffed to Bill’s cruiser bull bars. State Police are en route, and Wendy confirms the car is a Cruze.

While Tim maintains the makeshift seal and Sheriff John reassures him, Absimil explains that he complied and surrendered the register cash as trained, but the gunman shot him anyway and the other robber smashed the counter to grab scratch-off lottery tickets. Absimil insists the unsold tickets belong to the State of South Carolina and must be recovered, prompting Sheriff John to urge him to rest and conserve strength.

By chapter’s end, Absimil’s breathing is somewhat improved under Tim’s field treatment, the ambulance is on its way, and the suspects are in custody. The episode underscores Tim’s readiness under pressure and the swift coordination between the DuPray sheriff’s office and State Police.