Store Clerk Beaten to Death With Piece of Wood: Spotsylvania Sheriff's Office

SPOTSYLVANIA, VA — A gas station clerk was beat to death with a piece of wood in an attack early Saturday morning. Spotsylvania County Sheriff's Office released the victim's name and more details from the attack while announcing the arrest of a man held as a person of interest in the case.

David Junior Washington, 50, of Spotsylvania, has been charged with first degree murder, robbery and grand larceny. He is being held without bond at the Rappahannock Regional Jail.

At approximately 1:35 a.m. Washington reportedly entered the Sunoco Station in the 5300 block of Jefferson Davis Hwy., according to Capt. Jeff Pearce, a Sheriff's Office spokesperson.

"After several minutes of conversation with the clerk, Washington picked up a 2x2 piece of wood, which he had in his possession upon entering the store," Pearce noted in a release. "The suspect brutally attacked the store clerk, 54-year-old Saleh Yousef Abukhait."

Washington allegedly took an undermined amount of cash from the register and left. A customer arrived several minutes later and found Abukhait on the floor. Abukhait was pronounced dead at the scene.

Images from the gas station's security cameras were released early Saturday morning. Washington was identified by investigators Saturday and taken into custody at the Dunning Mills apartments in Fredericksburg.

Photos provided by Spotsylvania County Sheriff's Office