A tragic confrontation unfolded Monday evening at a Dayton Dollar General store, leaving 23-year-old Roosevelt Rappley dead. According to Montgomery County Coroner Kent Harshbarger, Rappley passed away around 6:27 p.m., though the official cause and manner of death are still under investigation.
The incident began just minutes earlier, around 6:20 p.m., when a man in his 20s entered the Dollar General at 2228 North Gettysburg Avenue, brandishing a firearm and demanding money. In a dramatic turn, a store clerk drew a weapon and fired at the suspect. Despite being shot, Rappley managed to exit the store but collapsed right outside the front doors. Authorities later confirmed his identity.
The community awaits further details as the investigation continues into this deadly robbery attempt.
According to Lt. Jason Hall, police were already familiar with Roosevelt Rappley. “The deceased had a pending weapons charge awaiting prosecution,” Hall revealed. “We are also investigating whether he may be connected to several other recent commercial robberies in the area.”
Witnesses described the tense scene inside the store: a man walked in, brandished a handgun, and demanded money from the register. An armed employee—though not the cashier—stepped forward to confront Rappley. Witnesses say Rappley then aimed his weapon at the employees, escalating the danger.
In a frantic 911 call, a witness reported to dispatchers that a man with a gun had tried to rob him at the store, underscoring the fear gripping those present during the ordeal.
The caller recounted the harrowing moment: “He pointed a gun at me. I had a firearm on me. I pulled my weapon and shot him in self-defense.” The caller also added that the suspect “shot back.” However, the exact number of shots fired during the incident remains unclear.
Lt. Hall explained that detectives are carefully reviewing all the evidence and ballistics to determine how many shots were fired—and from which weapons.
When asked about Dollar General’s policy on armed employees, the company neither confirmed nor denied whether staff are permitted to carry firearms. Instead, they emphasized that they have “a number of safety and security procedures” in place. “To protect the integrity of these measures, we do not comment on them specifically,” the company said in a statement. “We are continuing to review the circumstances surrounding this evening’s events in Dayton, Ohio, and are cooperating fully with local authorities in their investigation.”
Lt. Hall clarified that the employee did not require a concealed carry permit (CCW) because Dollar General is private property. “The employee was legally carrying a weapon while on private property—his place of employment,” Hall explained.
Meanwhile, Dayton police have decided not to release the store’s surveillance footage from the incident, leaving many questions still unanswered as the investigation moves forward.
