Hickory Man Charged With Armed Robbery Of Burke County Dollar General Store

A man is in custody and has been charged in connection to the armed robbery of a business on Monday in Burke County.

The Burke County Sheriff’s Office has released the following information.

On October 31, Burke County Deputies responded to an armed robbery call at the Dollar General in Rhodhiss. The suspect displayed what appeared to be a handgun to the clerks and demanded money. The suspect got away with an undisclosed amount of cash and cigarettes.

During the investigation, Deputies were able to identify the suspect as J45-year old Johnny Lee Gum of Hickory.

On Wednesday November 1, Hickory Police arrested Gum without incident.

A search warrant was executed at Gum’s residence located at 1124 12th Street NE Hickory, and evidence was seized that was related to the crime. Gum was transported to the Burke County Magistrate’s Office where he was given a 48-hour hold (no bond), in which a district or superior court judge will set his bond requirements. Gum was placed in the Burke County Jail.

On June 26, 2023, Johnny Gum was charged with Robbery with a Dangerous Weapon and the case is pending Grand Jury indictment in Catawba County. The investigation continues, and the findings will be turned over to the District Attorney’s Office for felony prosecution.

Photo: Burke County Sheriff’s Office