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Disgruntled patron returns to store and drives through front door, NC cops say

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The crash happened Thursday at the Bargain Max in Gastonia, and the dispute involved a vintage sign embedded in the store’s wall, Gastonia police said in a Jan. 15 news release.

The crash happened Thursday at the Bargain Max in Gastonia, and the dispute involved a vintage sign embedded in the store’s wall, Gastonia police said in a Jan. 15 news release.

Gastonia Police Department image

A disgruntled store patron was trying to hit both employees and customers when he drove a vehicle through the front doors, according to investigators in North Carolina.

The crash happened Thursday at the Bargain Max in Gastonia, and the dispute involved a vintage sign embedded in a wall near the entrance, Gastonia police said in a Jan. 15 news release.

“A man had an altercation with employees and customers after he tried removing the gold-plated ‘Sears’ sign near the door,” Gastonia police said.

“After leaving, he returned making threats and rammed his car through the front doors of Bargain Max.”

Images posted on social media show the car stopped when it slammed against a Sun Drop vending machine at the back wall.

No one was injured, but court documents report the driver was attempting to strike staff and customers by driving towards them. He was also overheard threatening to kill the store’s manager, police said.

The driver was identified in court documents as 18-year-old Jack Boone. He lives in of Biscoe, which is nearly 100-miles to the east.

Boone is charged with:

  • Eight counts of assault with a deadly weapon
  • Two counts of communicating threats
  • Two counts of resisting a public officer with injury
  • Injury to real property
  • Injuring/tampering with a vehicle
  • Reckless driving to endanger

Gastonia is about a 20-mile drive west from uptown Charlotte.

This story was originally published January 16, 2026 at 7:16 AM.

Mark Price

The Charlotte Observer

Mark Price is a National Reporter for McClatchy News. He joined the network of newspapers in 1991 at The Charlotte Observer, covering beats including schools, crime, immigration, LGBTQ issues, homelessness and nonprofits. He graduated from the University of Memphis with majors in journalism and art history, and a minor in geology.

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Mark Price

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