Deputies say a delivery driver in Onslow County, N.C., was hospitalized after being struck in the head with a baseball bat following a traffic dispute on Aug. 1. The suspect is described as a light-skinned Black or Hispanic man in his late 30s to early 40s, about 6 feet tall, driving a dark Range Rover with silver/gray alloy wheels. Authorities are asking residents and businesses to review surveillance and dash-cam footage and submit tips via the department app or the North Carolina Evidence Submission Portal. Crime Stoppers is offering up to $5,000 for information that helps the investigation.
Food-Delivery Driver Hospitalized After Baseball-Bat Attack; Police Seek Dark Range Rover And Suspect
Image Credit: Onslow County Sheriff's Office
A North Carolina food-delivery driver was hospitalized after deputies say a man followed her from an intersection and struck her in the head with a baseball bat. The Onslow County Sheriff's Office says the suspect remains at large as detectives work to identify him and the dark-colored Range Rover he was driving.
What Happened
Deputies say the assault occurred in the early hours of Aug. 1 after Christen Phillips stopped at the intersection of Western Boulevard and Gum Branch Road. Investigators say the vehicle in front of her did not move when the light turned green and Phillips briefly honked her horn. The vehicle pulled aside but then followed Phillips toward a delivery in the Shamrock Drive area.
After Phillips completed the delivery and walked back toward her vehicle, the suspect allegedly approached and struck her in the head with a baseball bat before fleeing the scene. Phillips was able to get herself to Onslow Memorial Hospital; deputies were notified there and immediately opened an investigation.
Suspect And Vehicle Description
Authorities describe the suspect as a light-skinned Black or Hispanic man, estimated to be in his late 30s to early 40s, about 6 feet tall, with short hair and no facial hair. Investigators now say he was driving a dark-colored Range Rover with silver or gray alloy wheels.
Investigation And Public Appeal
The sheriff's office says detectives have refined the investigation as they corroborate details Phillips initially provided. One person who was once believed to be involved has since been ruled out as a suspect. Officials are asking anyone who saw suspicious activity near Western Boulevard and Gum Branch Road or in nearby Richlands to come forward.
Residents and businesses are being asked to review surveillance, doorbell, and dash-cam footage. Tips can be submitted through the department's app, and the North Carolina Evidence Submission Portal accepts video and other evidence. Crime Stoppers is offering up to $5,000 for information that proves valuable to the investigation.
Note: The sheriff's office cautioned that details in an active investigation can change as new evidence is collected; information is released carefully so detectives do not compromise the case or distribute material that may later be found inaccurate.
Sheriff Chris Thomas addressed the case at a press conference on Aug. 3. The department says additional updates will be released as the investigation allows.
Online Reaction
The incident prompted online questions about automated license-plate readers and local surveillance systems. Some commenters argued the technology should help locate the vehicle, while others raised privacy concerns. Authorities continue to seek any footage or eyewitness accounts that could narrow the suspect's movements.
If you have relevant footage or information: Submit tips through the Onslow County Sheriff's Office app, the North Carolina Evidence Submission Portal, or contact Crime Stoppers. Even seemingly minor details can help detectives.
Help us improve.
