Duo charged after man pistol-whipped while trying to buy watermelon

NORTH CHARLESTON, SC (WCSC) - North Charleston police say they arrested a man and woman Wednesday shortly after a man was pistol-whipped while trying to buy a watermelon.

Officers responded to the Exxon at 3700 Rivers Avenue after receiving reports of an armed robbery just before 10 a.m. to find a 57-year-old man bleeding from the right side of his head. The man told police he was trying to buy a watermelon from a vendor when a burgundy vehicle pulled up and a man got out.

The victim told police the man, 26-year-old Tyron Washington, walked up to him and said, "Give me something out of your pocket. If you don't have nothing, you're going to have a bad day (sic)."

The victim said he pulled out his pockets, which only contained an ID card, some business cards, and the victim's black Nokia cell phone. The suspect then pulled out a handgun and struck the victim on the side of the head before jumping back into the burgundy car, driven by 30-year-old Tameka Dukes, the victim told police.

A short time later, officers found the burgundy vehicle at South Rhett and Bexley. The victim identified Dukes as the same woman who drove Washington to the gas station.

Both suspects were arrested and charged with armed robbery. Washington was also charged with possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime.

They were taken to the Charleston County Detention Center.  On Thursday, Dukes was issued a $100,000 bond and Washington received a $150,000 bond.

Copyright 2013 WCSC.  All rights reserved.