Police: Clay County Store Clerk Shoots, Kills Robber

A Clay County convenience store clerk killed a man early Saturday when the man attempted to rob the store.

William Kyle Smith, 29, was found dead shortly after midnight Saturday when officers responded to a call from a clerk at the Prime Stop Food Store on Peoria Road in Orange Park, according to a news release from the Clay County Sheriff’s Office.

Smith had entered the store with sunglasses on and at some point pulled out a handgun and approached the counter, the clerk told police.

The clerk, who has a concealed-carry permit, then pulled out his own firearm and shot Smith, the release said. A loaded small-caliber handgun was found lying next to Smith.

Smith’s car was still running in front of the store, and the events were all captured by a surveillance camera, the release said.

The name of the clerk and the surveillance video has not yet been released because of the ongoing investigation.

Clay County Sherriff’s Office spokeswoman Denise Flak and store employees couldn’t be reached for comment, so further details weren’t immediately available.