Police say the worker acted lawfully under Oklahoma’s self-defense law; 7-Eleven cites a policy violation.
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK — A 25-year-old 7-Eleven clerk who shot a man during an attack inside her store just before midnight on Nov. 14 has been fired for violating company rules against carrying a personal gun at work, according to the employee and local police. The man she shot, identified by authorities as 59-year-old Kenneth Thompson, was arrested at a hospital and booked on multiple complaints.
Authorities said the shooting is being treated as lawful self-defense under Oklahoma statute after a late-night confrontation over a suspected counterfeit $100 bill escalated into threats and a physical struggle behind the counter. The case now sits at an unusual crossroads: a police determination that the clerk broke no law, and a corporate decision that her actions broke policy. The incident has drawn wide attention because it highlights tensions between front-line worker safety and company rules in overnight retail settings.
According to the clerk, Stephanie Dilyard, the man grew agitated when she refused a $100 bill she believed was fake. She said he hurled items, came behind the counter and grabbed her neck as she tried to call police. “He threatened me and said he was going to slice my head off,” Dilyard said in an interview, adding that she fired once after being pushed out of the counter space. The shooting happened shortly before midnight on Nov. 14 at a 7-Eleven in northwest Oklahoma City. Thompson left the store and called 911 from nearby MacArthur Blvd. and Northwest 34th St., where officers later found him and arranged transport to a hospital.
Police said Dilyard’s actions fell under Oklahoma’s self-defense law after they reviewed the initial evidence and her account of the assault. No arrest was made of the clerk. Thompson was booked on complaints of assault and battery, threatening acts of violence and attempting to pass a counterfeit bill, along with a parole violation warrant. Dilyard, who said she had worked the overnight shift alone from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. for more than two years, showed visible marks on her neck following the altercation and described a burn on her finger from firing her pistol. The store’s overnight shift remained open after the incident as officers documented the scene and collected statements.
Seven-Eleven terminated Dilyard on Nov. 17, she said, citing a company rule that bars employees from carrying personal weapons while on duty. A manager informed her the company would “separate from employment” due to a policy violation, according to Dilyard. Corporate officials did not answer detailed questions about the firing or whether any safety policies would change for overnight staff. The company has, in past training materials, emphasized de-escalation and the use of store items or panic alarms when threatened. It was not immediately known whether the Oklahoma City location had security staff or equipment beyond standard cameras during the overnight hours.
The Friday-night confrontation began with basic retail steps that clerks take daily: verify currency, deny suspicious bills and call police if needed. In this case, the rejection of the $100 bill quickly moved beyond a dispute over payment. Dilyard said she tried to create distance and reach a phone as the customer’s threats escalated. “I was put into a corner between choosing my job and my life,” she said. “I’m always going to choose my life because there are people who depend on me.” She said she carried her own handgun because she believed overnight workers faced unpredictable risks, and described feeling shaken but resolute after the incident.
Oklahoma’s law allows people to use deadly force to prevent death or great bodily harm when they reasonably believe it is necessary; police said their preliminary review placed Dilyard’s actions within that framework. Investigators have not announced any charges against the clerk. Thompson’s precise medical condition was not disclosed, but police said he was treated and then taken into custody. Public records list him as 59 and indicate a felony warrant for violating parole. Court filings in his case had not been posted publicly as of Tuesday, and a first appearance date was not immediately available.
The case has stirred debate in Oklahoma City, where many convenience stores rely on single clerks to cover overnight hours. Workers often balance customer service with verifying currency and handling loitering or theft complaints. In interviews, defense attorneys and retail advocates described this incident as a collision of policy and peril: a company’s risk rules meeting a frontline worker’s split-second decision. Neighbors who frequent the store said the area sees routine late-night traffic from nearby apartment complexes and busy north-south arteries. Some left small notes near the counter for the clerk after word of her firing spread on social media.
Dilyard set up an online fundraiser after losing her paycheck and benefits, describing herself as the primary support for her children while she looks for new work. Her former co-workers said privately that they were not authorized to comment on policy and deferred to corporate. Police said they would forward reports to prosecutors as routine practice for review, including surveillance footage, witness statements and currency evidence tied to the $100 bill. The Secret Service, which investigates counterfeiting, had not announced an inquiry connected to the case; local detectives said any federal involvement would be determined after lab checks on the bill.
As of Tuesday, Thompson remained in custody on the listed complaints while detectives completed follow-up interviews. Prosecutors are expected to receive the police reports within days. No court date for the clerk is scheduled because no charges have been filed against her. Company officials have not said whether any policy review is underway for overnight staffing, and police had not scheduled a public briefing. The next milestone is the filing of formal charges against Thompson and any updates to the police report later this week.
Author note: Last updated November 25, 2025.