Bowling Green, Ohio — A trip to the gas station turned tragic for a South Carolina woman when an altercation with a former Circle K employee led to severe consequences. Rev. Deria Francis Stukes, 40, who was eight weeks pregnant, reportedly experienced a violent attack that she claims resulted in the loss of her unborn child.
Stukes, traveling with her sons from South Carolina to Detroit for a conference, entered a Circle K gas station on May 23, 2025, to inquire about canceling a transaction in order to use fuel rewards to save money. The situation escalated when the clerk, Shannon Walsh, 28, became increasingly aggressive. Stukes recounted feeling bewildered by Walsh’s hostile demeanor and aggressive language, including what Stukes described as a racially charged comment directed at another customer in line.
CCTV footage captured the confrontation, which allegedly involved Walsh throwing a jar of change at Stukes. The jar struck her stomach before Walsh exited from behind the counter, grabbed Stukes by her hair, and began striking her repeatedly. Stukes’ sons witnessed the incident, prompting her to instruct her 13-year-old son to find their father for help.
In a press release regarding the ongoing lawsuit, attorney Charles Boyk, representing Stukes, stated that Walsh had verbally assaulted Stukes, referring to her in derogatory terms. Subsequently, law enforcement arrived, and Walsh was arrested. She later entered a plea of no contest and was convicted of assault in Bowling Green Municipal Court.
The Stukes family is now pursuing $75,000 in damages in light of the traumatic experience. The lawsuit alleges that Walsh, while acting as a Circle K employee, threw the jar that hit Stukes and physically attacked her when she tried to leave. The legal filings assert that Walsh’s actions caused significant harm and distress, particularly given Stukes’ pregnancy.
The suit further claims that Circle K failed to maintain a safe environment and did not adequately train or supervise its staff, which enabled such violent behavior to occur. Boyk emphasized the stark contrast between Circle K’s mission to serve the public and the reality of what transpired.
“This should never have happened,” Boyk stated. “Rev. Francis was simply a mother trying to redeem a loyalty reward, and instead, she faced violence and racism, leading to the tragic loss of her child. Such brutality should have no place in a business environment.”