A late-night food delivery shift took a brutal turn for a DoorDash driver in Jacksonville, North Carolina. Christen Phillips, 34, honked at a car that was sitting at a green light around 1:20 a.m. on Aug. 1. The driver of that car, 44-year-old Stanley Shockley, allegedly followed her to her delivery drop-off and attacked her with a baseball bat. Phillips suffered multiple skull fractures and a fractured cheekbone, requiring emergency brain surgery.
Phillips says she was knocked unconscious by the blow and believes her attacker thought she was dead.“When the guy hit me in the head, and I was knocked out, I believe he thought I was dead, left me for dead. It’s a miracle that I woke up,”she told reporters. Shockley was arrested after tips from the public and a search of his home. He’s now charged with assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill and is being held without bond. Authorities also accuse him of wiping his Ring camera footage in an attempt to hide evidence.
This story is a chilling reminder of how quickly a minor traffic frustration can escalate into something life-threatening. It also shines a spotlight on the risks gig workers face every day, especially those working overnight. Would you honk at someone sitting at a green light after hearing this story? Let us know in the comments.
About the Author
Andrew Johnson
Andrew Johnson is a contributor to LocalBeat, covering local news and community stories.
