Accused sledgehammer attacker arrested 4 days after hospitalizing Lowe's employee in Durham

DURHAM, N.C. (WTVD) -- A man is behind bars days after a sledgehammer attack at a Durham Lowe's Home Improvement.

Durham Police Department arrested Aaron Deshown Williams, 25, on aggravated assault and robbery charges.

The charges stem from an incident that happened Saturday at the Lowe's near the corner of Fayetteville Road and Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway.

Investigators said an employee was helping Williams find some items in the store when Williams grabbed a sledgehammer from his shopping cart and hit the employee in the head with it.

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Terry McAnthony McMillian Jr., 26, of Durham, was taken into custody Tuesday and charged with first-degree murder and robbery.

When the employee crumpled to the ground, police said Williams grabbed a drill set box and ran out of the store.

First responders arrived and rushed the store employee to the hospital with serious injuries.

Four days later, Durham investigators arrested Williams.

Court documents obtained by ABC11 show that Williams has a variety of charges from Durham to Wake County including things from speeding to reckless driving. WIlliams also allegedly stole a gun from Bull City Armory, a gun shop on Roxboro Road, and stole a $400 mountain bike from someone in Wake County last year.

He was booked in the Durham County Jail without bond.

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Jeff Rasor told ABC News that his father would want the "appropriate measures" to be implemented to discourage retail theft and to help people avoid a life of crime.

The employee, later identified as 65-year-old John Wilburn, is continuing to recuperate at the hospital on Thursday. His family told ABC11 Wilburn had a fractured skull and broken hip from the attack.

Wilburn's family said he had been an employee at Lowes for eight years.

Lanise Washington, the family's spokesperson, said the family is relieved that the attacker has been caught.

"One piece of the puzzle that they can process and put behind them," she said. "The tips and different things that helped to locate the attacker...greatly appreciated by the family."

Lowe's released the following statement about the attack:

"In emergency situations, like this weekend's attack, we encourage our associates to take immediate and appropriate action to notify emergency responders, including calling 911. We do not have a policy that restricts that activity in any way during emergencies like this. Lowe's associates at this store called and spoke with emergency responders immediately after the incident occurred.

The safety of our customers and associates is our priority at all times, and we are appalled by the attack on one of our associates. We have been in close contact with this associate and all other associates at this store to offer resources and support. We assisted the Durham Police Department as requested with its investigation, and we thank the local officers for their continued partnership and support. Out of consideration for our associate and the associate's family and friends, we're asking that others respect their privacy at this time."