DoorDash Mom Suffers Skull Fractures After Alleged Roadside Attack
A North Carolina woman delivering food for DoorDash suffered multiple skull fractures and brain bleeding after a man allegedly followed her from a traffic stop and attacked her with a bat, according to authorities and the victim's own account.
Christen Phillips, a mother of three, was working a delivery in Jacksonville, North Carolina, on Aug. 1 when the attack happened, the Onslow County Sheriff's Office said. Phillips was stopped at an intersection waiting for the driver ahead of her to move, later identified by police as 44-year-old Stanley Shockley. She honked her horn, and Shockley moved his vehicle out of the way. According to the sheriff's office, "the vehicle moved out of her way and began following her."
Phillips arrived at her delivery address, completed the drop-off and was walking back to her car when Shockley allegedly got out of his vehicle and attacked her with a small wooden bat, then fled the scene, the sheriff's office said. Phillips later described the object in more detail in a social media post, saying Shockley came to her car door with what she believed was a small wooden bat or baton and struck her repeatedly in the head and face.
Injuries Left Her Unable to Recall the Attack
Phillips said she lost consciousness during the assault and has no memory of it. In a social media post describing the incident, she said the beating left her with skull fractures and brain bleeds, along with blood and cerebral fluid draining from her left ear for hours. Her left cheekbone was also fractured, she said.
Phillips was able to drive herself to a nearby hospital after the attack, where she has been recovering.
Suspect Now Facing Charges
Shockley was arrested Monday and charged with assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill inflicting serious injury, according to arrest records.
Onslow County Sheriff Chris Thomas addressed the case in a statement, acknowledging that the public does not see everything that goes into an investigation and that cases like this one can leave citizens uneasy. He thanked the community for the tips and leads it provided, saying detectives "follow every lead" and keep working through the evidence even when a case gets difficult. Thomas said that effort ultimately led investigators to identify a suspect and make an arrest.
DoorDash also addressed the attack, calling what Phillips experienced "horrific" in a statement and saying the company is relieved she is safe. The company added it will keep assisting law enforcement with the investigation.
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