Wild store surveillance camera footage caught an attempted armed robbery at a West Virginia convenience store on Friday, May 1, 2026, which ended in confusion, gunfire, and a quick escape that authorities say ultimately led to the arrest of a 42-year-old Oceana woman.
Rebecca Peterson, 42, is accused of entering a Shell station on Little Coal River Road in Alum Creek shortly after 4 a.m. on May 1, 2026, and attempting to rob the store at gunpoint, according to West Virginia State Police, as reported by West Virginia news outlet WCHS.
Investigators say surveillance video from inside the store shows Peterson approaching the counter and producing a handgun while demanding money from the clerk. In the awkward exchange, the clerk first asks her to put the gun down. He can be seen stepping back as the situation escalates.
According to police summaries of the footage, Peterson then fired a shot inside the store during the encounter, striking an interior wall near the service counter. Moments later, she appears to move deeper into a storage area after being told the store owner is back there counting cash, a clever ruse many online called sending the woman on “a side quest.”
While pointing the gun at the camera, she fires again, striking the device mounted to the back wall of the backroom area.
The clerk fled the store immediately after the gunfire and called 911, according to investigators. Allegedly, Peterson then left the scene without taking any cash or merchandise.
No one was injured
Troopers located Peterson later on May 1, 2026, in Kanawha County during a traffic stop shortly after fleeing the scene in a vehicle. Officers took her into custody without further incident. Investigators recovered a firearm believed to have been used in the attempted robbery during the arrest.
Authorities booked Peterson into the Western Regional Jail. As of Monday, May 4, 2026, she remains in custody pending arraignment, according to jail records and law enforcement officials. Authorities say charges include attempted armed robbery, wanton endangerment, brandishing a firearm, assault, and destruction of property. The investigation remains active.
The incident quickly drew attention after descriptions of the surveillance footage circulated online, with viewers reacting to what investigators characterized as a disorganized and rapidly collapsing robbery attempt. One comment noted, “The most awkward robbery I’ve ever seen. But hey, we all start somewhere, she just needs to work on her delivery.”
Despite the unusual nature of the case, the underlying conduct remains serious, particularly the discharge of a firearm inside an occupied business. Firing a weapon during the commission of a felony significantly elevates potential charges due to the risk posed to employees and bystanders. West Virginia State Police have not released additional details about whether Peterson had a prior criminal record or legal representation.
Published: May 4, 2026 02:01 pm