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Robber punches pregnant store clerk in the face in horrific video

Horrific video captures moment vicious robber punches pregnant store clerk in the face

  • Police say Vincent Lavon Johnson, 41, walked into the Pensacola, Florida Boost Mobile store and knocked Jessica Smith, 35, to the ground with a punch
  • Johnson allegedly then took the money from the store cash register as Smith lay on the floor sobbing
  • Shocking security footage caught the whole thing and helped police pinpoint and eventually arrest Johnson

By Joshua Gardner

Published: 22:46 EST, 19 June 2014 | Updated: 08:30 EST, 20 June 2014

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Horrific security footage taken at a Florida Boost Mobile store shows a robber violently punch a pregnant clerk before making off with all the place in the cash.

Police say 41-year-old Vincent Lavon Johnson is the man who so callously beat down Jessica Smith, 35, in the Pensacola store on Wednesday.

While difficult to watch, the video is part of what helped police quickly identify Johnson as the subject before nabbing him early Thursday.

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Horrific security footage taken at a Florida Boost Mobile store shows a robber violently punch a pregnant clerk before making off with all the place in the cash. Police say 41-year-old Vincent Lavon Johnson is the man who so callously beat down Jessica Smith, 35, in the Pensacola store on Wednesday. While difficult to watch, the video is part of what helped police quickly identify Johnson as the subject before nabbing him early Thursday. Horrific security footage taken at a Florida Boost Mobile store shows a robber violently punch a pregnant clerk before making off with all the place in the cash. Police say 41-year-old Vincent Lavon Johnson is the man who so callously beat down Jessica Smith, 35, in the Pensacola store on Wednesday. While difficult to watch, the video is part of what helped police quickly identify Johnson as the subject before nabbing him early Thursday. Horrific security footage taken at a Florida Boost Mobile store shows a robber violently punch a pregnant clerk before making off with all the place in the cash. Police say 41-year-old Vincent Lavon Johnson is the man who so callously beat down Jessica Smith, 35, in the Pensacola store on Wednesday. While difficult to watch, the video is part of what helped police quickly identify Johnson as the subject before nabbing him early Thursday. Horrific security footage taken at a Florida Boost Mobile store shows a robber violently punch a pregnant clerk before making off with all the place in the cash. Police say 41-year-old Vincent Lavon Johnson is the man who so callously beat down Jessica Smith, 35, in the Pensacola store on Wednesday. While difficult to watch, the video is part of what helped police quickly identify Johnson as the subject before nabbing him early Thursday.

Horrible: Shocking video shows a robber brutally punching a pregnant Boost Mobile store clerk in Pensacola, Florida

Arrested: Vincent Lavon Johnson was arrested Thursday following the brutal Wednesday attack after several tipster ID'd him to police as the man in the footage

Arrested: Vincent Lavon Johnson was arrested Thursday following the brutal Wednesday attack after several tipster ID'd him to police as the man in the footage

Before feeling the relief of seeing the man she identified as her assailant put in jail, Smith had to first suffer the brutal attack.

Footage shows Smith as she greets the man. He fidgets for a moment, puts something in his pocket, then completely without warning he throws a punch over the counter and hits Smith squarely in the face.

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The gruesome seconds thereafter show her fly through the air and hit the floor in a heap.

'Please!' she pleads. 'I'm pregnant!'

The man struts around to the employee side of the desk and demands to know how to open the register.

'Oh my God,' Smith moaned as she lay on the ground. 'There is a button.'

The man then opens the till and stuffs cash into his pants before making a hasty exit.

According to WEAR, the Pensacola Police received several tips naming Johnson as the assailant after distributing the footage for media broadcast.

Thursday morning, officers responding to a tip found Johnson wearing the same clothes as in the video, but he quickly ran from them.

Following a brief chase with a K9 unit, police arrested Johnson at a Pensacola home.

He's charged with felony battery, strong-arm robbery and burglary.

Smith was reportedly taken to an area hospital with a broken nose and is expected to recover.  

Brutal: The footage shows the man go behind the counter as Smith lay bleeding

Brutal: The footage shows the man go behind the counter as Smith lay bleeding

The man stuffs wads of cash into his pocket while being careful not to leave prints on the register

The man stuffs wads of cash into his pocket while being careful not to leave prints on the register

Smith was taken to a hospital suffering from a broken nose after the man fled the scene

Smith was taken to a hospital suffering from a broken nose after the man fled the scene


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Martina Birk

Update: 2024-02-22

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