An Oklahoma 7-Eleven employee was let go after reportedly attempting to strangle a customer and then allegedly threatening to “cut off his head” before firing a shot at him. The clerk, who used her own firearm, acted against the store’s policy.
Stephanie Dilliard, 25, recounted that she was alone at the convenience store in Oklahoma City shortly after midnight on November 14. A customer entered, attempting to pay for snacks with a fake $100 bill. When she informed him that the bill was counterfeit, he became aggressive.
“He threatened me and said he was going to cut my head off, so I tried to call the police,” she remembered.
As the situation escalated, Dilliard stated that the man began attacking her, throwing objects before physically confronting her.
“I tried to escape, but he grabbed my neck and pushed me away from the counter. That’s when I pulled out my gun and shot him,” she explained.
The suspect, identified as Kenneth Thompson, managed to leave the store after being shot but later called 911 a few blocks away.
Thompson, 59, was arrested at the hospital on charges including assault, making threats, attempting to pass counterfeit money, and a parole violation.
Authorities determined that Dilliard’s reaction fell under Oklahoma’s Stand Your Ground law, which permits the use of deadly force to protect oneself from imminent danger.
Despite being cleared by the police, Dilliard was fired just days after the incident on November 17. “They said I was terminated for violating policy,” she said. Dilliard had worked solo night shifts from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. for over two years.
She mentioned she just wanted to return home to her three children. “I felt cornered—choosing between my job and my life. My kids depend on me,” she added.
Dilliard was left with injuries from the confrontation, including bruising and burn marks. She expressed a desire for changes to ensure better safety for store workers, especially women, encouraging them to feel empowered to defend themselves.
“If I believed someone was genuinely out to harm me, I wouldn’t hesitate to act. I hope other women feel the same way,” she stated. “You have the right to protect yourself.”
Since losing her job, Dilliard has created a GoFundMe to assist with her family’s financial needs, asserting she does not regret her decision to protect herself. “We lack security measures and are not permitted to carry self-defense tools, including mace. That’s why I felt compelled to carry a firearm,” she said.
“I never anticipated being in this situation, but I did what I needed to do to return to my children. I was a dedicated employee, faced with making choices between my life or my job,” she concluded.
