Dollar General clerk arrested after shooting armed robber at Monroe store

A Dollar General clerk identified as Rafus Anderson was arrested after he shot an armed robber during what local law enforcement described as a reported robbery at the Monroe, Louisiana, store on Jan. 15. Authorities said the suspected robber was found "lying in the money he had just robbed the store of" and later died from complications related to a gunshot wound. An innocent bystander was also struck and received treatment.

Law enforcement accounts indicate Anderson turned himself in to police after the shooting. He told investigators that the location had experienced multiple robbery attempts in recent months and said "this was the sixth attempt in five months." Those comments underscore persistent security pressures at some discount retail locations, particularly for small crews working registers and overnight or late shifts.

The arrest raises immediate questions about how companies like Dollar General protect store teams and what actions are considered self-defense under state law. Dollar General had not released a public statement at the time of reporting. Local authorities are handling the criminal investigation into the shooting and any potential charges against Anderson as well as the circumstances surrounding the death of the suspect.

For store-level employees, the episode highlights tensions between loss prevention realities and personal safety. Clerks often face split-second decisions while managing registers, stocking aisles, and interacting with armed suspects. Incidents that end with an employee detained or charged can chill workplace morale and prompt confusion about company policies on confronting suspects, using force, and whether employees should be expected to intervene during robberies.

Labor and safety implications may ripple beyond the Monroe store. Managers and district leadership typically review incident protocols after violent encounters to determine whether staffing, lighting, surveillance, panic-button systems, or training need reinforcement. For workers, changes can mean new requirements for cash handling, updated instructions on when to comply versus when to resist, and clearer lines for summoning law enforcement.

As the criminal case moves through the legal process, frontline employees and local store leadership will be watching for any updates from police and for guidance from corporate about safety practices and legal exposure. The shooting and subsequent death of the suspect leave frontline staff facing both grief and practical concerns about how to do their jobs without becoming targets, and they will want clarity on what protections and training the company will provide next.