GREENVILLE, SC – Authorities say a man who stabbed another customer during an argument over a spot in line at a convenience store last year has been sentenced to 17 years in prison.
Frank Arthur Lawson, 64, pleaded guilty Monday to charges of assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature, as well as possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime, officials said. The charges were related to a June 2023 stabbing at a Spinx convenience store located in Greenville County.
Investigators reported that Lawson and another man got into a heated argument while waiting to check out. The dispute turned violent when Lawson pulled out a knife and stabbed the unarmed victim in the throat.
First responders from Greenville EMS were credited by officials with saving the victim’s life. The wounded man received emergency medical care and was transported to a nearby hospital, where he survived the injury.
Lawson, according to court records, has a lengthy criminal history in Greenville County, spanning several decades. His previous convictions include an assault and battery charge from 1989 and a 2018 conviction for receiving stolen property.
The incident took place at a Spinx store near Greer, a city of roughly 45,000 residents. Spinx convenience stores are a familiar sight in South Carolina and parts of neighboring North Carolina.
Prosecutors said the violence erupted unexpectedly over something as routine as a place in line, underscoring the unpredictable risks that can arise in public spaces.
Lawson’s latest sentence will be served in the South Carolina Department of Corrections. Under state law, his conviction for assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature carries a maximum of 20 years.
The victim’s name was not released by authorities. No further details about his recovery or current condition were provided.
No additional suspects were implicated in the incident, and officials did not release further details about the circumstances leading up to the attack.