Macon Store Clerk Accused of Beating, Kicking Elderly Customer During Coffee Dispute

MACON, Ga. – A 27-year-old convenience store clerk was arrested after deputies say surveillance video showed her repeatedly punching and kicking a 66-year-old woman during an altercation at a Macon Circle K.

Shelna Jana Hicks, 27, of Macon, was charged with aggravated battery and abuse of an elderly person following the Sept. 15 incident at the Circle K in the 4700 block of Chambers Road.

Bibb County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to the store at approximately 7 a.m. after receiving a report of a fight in progress.

The victim, Cheryl Oglesby, 66, told deputies she stopped at the gas station for a cup of coffee, as she routinely did in the morning. When she approached the entrance, she found the door locked and spoke with a clerk about why the business was not accepting customers.

Oglesby told deputies the conversation escalated into a verbal confrontation before the clerk approached her and began hitting her. She said she attempted to defend herself but was unsuccessful.

According to the incident report, Oglesby was punched multiple times in the face and side. After she fell to the ground, she was kicked in the face.

A responding deputy reported seeing cuts and blood inside Oglesby’s mouth, a golf ball-sized knot beneath her left eye and redness in the eye area.

Deputies then spoke with Hicks, who provided a different account of how the confrontation began.

Hicks told investigators her shift was supposed to end at 6 a.m., but her replacement was late, so she locked the doors and stopped accepting customers. She said she was outside speaking with someone who was going to pick her up when Oglesby approached.

According to Hicks’ account to deputies, she attempted to direct Oglesby elsewhere for coffee, but Oglesby became verbally aggressive and cursed at her. Hicks said that when she approached Oglesby to speak with her, Oglesby pushed her shoulder.

Hicks told deputies she could not remember what happened after being pushed and said she had defended herself.

A deputy reviewed the store’s surveillance footage after interviewing both women. Although the video did not contain audio and briefly cut out at points during the encounter, investigators said it showed both women talking before Hicks approached Oglesby.

When the video resumed, both women could be seen in fighting stances, according to the report. Deputies said the footage showed Hicks repeatedly striking Oglesby in the face with a closed fist until the older woman fell.

Investigators said Hicks continued striking Oglesby in the face and left rib area while she was down. After another brief interruption in the footage, Oglesby could be seen attempting to sit up.

According to deputies, Hicks then walked toward Oglesby, pulled her foot back and kicked her in the face, knocking her back to the ground.

Hicks was taken into custody.

Oglesby was transported by ambulance to Atrium Health Navicent for treatment. A deputy later contacted the Sheriff’s Office’s Violent Crime Investigative Unit after Oglesby’s family reported that she had undergone brain surgery the previous week.

Hicks faces charges of aggravated battery and abuse of an elderly person.