by Oklahoma City, Oklahoma — An Oklahoma City convenience store clerk says she’s been left jobless and shaken after defending herself during a terrifying confrontation. Stephanie Dilyard, 25, a mother of three, was working the overnight shift at a 7‑Eleven on November 14 when she says a customer tried to strangle her and threatened to “slice her head off.”
According to local reports, Dilyard was alone in the store shortly after midnight when a man stepped up to the counter with an armful of snacks and attempted to pay with a counterfeit $100 bill. When she told him the bill was fake, the situation escalated fast.
“He started threatening me,” she recalled. “He said he was going to cut my head off. That’s when I tried calling police.”
The Attack Behind the Counter
As Dilyard attempted to report the incident, the man allegedly became more aggressive. She told investigators the suspect began throwing items at her before charging behind the counter and grabbing her.
“I tried to run, but he put his hands around my neck,” she said. “He pushed me out of the counter area, and that’s when I pulled out my gun and shot him.”
The man — later identified as 59-year-old Kenneth Thompson — was struck in the stomach. He managed to flee the store and run several blocks before calling 911.
Charges Filed Against the Attacker
Police later confirmed that Thompson was taken to a hospital and ultimately arrested. He now faces multiple charges, including:
- Assault and Battery
- Threatening Acts of Violence
- Attempting to Pass Counterfeit Currency
- Violating Parole on an existing felony warrant
Authorities also determined that Dilyard’s response was legally justified under Oklahoma’s Stand-Your-Ground law, which allows residents to use deadly force when facing an imminent threat of serious injury or death.
Cleared by Police — Fired by Employer
Even though investigators deemed the shooting lawful, Dilyard said her employer notified her on November 17 that she was being terminated. According to her, management cited a policy violation: she had used her own firearm while on the job, which company rules prohibit.
Dilyard said she had worked the overnight shift solo — from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. — for more than two years. Despite the trauma, she showed reporters the scratch marks on her neck and the burn marks she still had from firing her weapon.
“All I could think about was getting home to my kids,” she said. “I felt trapped between choosing my job or my life — and my life will always come first because my kids depend on me. I need to be here for them.”
Calls for Better Protection
The young mother hopes her ordeal will spark new conversations about safety for convenience store workers — particularly women who work alone at night.
“If someone is trying to take your life, you do what you have to do,” she said. “I hope other women see this and know they have the right to defend themselves.”
What Do You Think?
Should employees be punished for defending themselves during violent attacks? Should companies rethink their policies — or was the firing justified?
Share your thoughts in the comments below!
