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'There was just so much blood': Charlotte dad, 4-year-old run over by shoplifters at Harris Teeter

A father and his 4-year-old son are recovering after they were run over by a pair of suspected shoplifters.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- A father carrying his 4-year-old son out of a south Charlotte Harris Teeter store was hit by a hit-and-run driver Wednesday evening, causing serious injuries.

Police reports say around 5:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Harris Teeter in the Blakeney Village shopping center, located at 9720 Rea Road, a suspect who stole a 24-pack of Bud Light came running out of the store, passing 41-year-old Nathan Green and his son.

That’s when witnesses say the suspect hopped into a getaway car with two other suspects and sped off hitting Green and his son.

“That’s when I saw it in my side view and I obviously heard the dad,” said Ashley Parache, who was loading groceries into her car with her mother, Jennifer.

Jennifer said they both ran to help.

“There was just so much blood. His glasses had fallen off and there was just so much blood,” Jennifer said, who quickly noticed one of the victims was a child.

“I think at that point, we were just trying to stop the bleeding and calm him down a little bit because the dad was in pretty bad shape. My heart just sank. They just took off and didn’t care who they hit,” she said.

Green’s wife Amber said their 4-year-old suffered deep lacerations to his head and Green has multiple skull fractures. Doctors told her Green would not be allowed to drive or be in a car for a long time as his injuries heal.

“Even being a passenger in a vehicle is putting him at risk. If there is any blow to the head whatsoever, in the event of an accident, it could kill him,” Amber said.

Amber says she’s feeling a mix of emotions including disgust, anger and sadness.

“It’s not OK for you to run over a parent holding a child. I mean, it’s not ok to hit anyone, let alone a parent and a child. I just don’t understand what would be going through those kids' heads.”

Amber said the support and prayers offered to her family from across the globe has helped her cope. She and her husband own Southern Olive in Fort Mill and customers, as well as strangers, have reached out.

“It just warmed his heart. He actually smiled so big even though his head was hurting so bad. It made him feel so good to know that people out there cared,” she said.

On Wednesday, Amber is holding her son a little tighter, feeling grateful everyone survived. She said she wants to thank the good Samaritans who stopped to help her family.

With tears in her eyes, Amber said, “thank you for being there to help my son and my husband.”

A GoFundMe account has been set up to help the family.

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