By Jack Fredericks / STAFF

These days a cell phone is not just used to make calls to a friend or relative. With all the “iPhones” and “Blackberrys,” a cell phone has become much more than just a phone, but rarely is a cell phone used to literally save someone’s life.

Joseph Wescott, a local store clerk at the Beverage Mart on Holcomb Bridge Road, survived an attempted armed robbery Monday June 15th around 8:30 p.m. when Carlos Jeanpierre rushed into the store and demanded that Wescott put the money in the bag. Wescott hesitated for a minute and Jeanpierre proceeded to try and stab Wescott with a 10-inch hunting knife he was waving around. Fortunately for Wescott he had slipped his cell phone in his shirt breast pocket and when Jeanpierre went to stab him, the cell-phone deflected the knife, ultimately saving Wescott’s life. “I had [the cellphone] in my shirt pocket and when he lunged at me with the knife, he hit the back of the cell phone and dented the battery,” said Wescott. Wescott then stumbled back for a minute before pulling out his .40 caliber handgun that his son, Officer Jason Wescott, had bought him two months prior. As soon as Jeanpierre saw the gun he turned and started to run out the door. However, Wescott shot Jeanpierre on his right side.

When Wescott turned around to call the police and make sure the witnesses did not leave, Jeanpierre hopped in a getaway car and proceeded to North Fulton Hospital where he was indentified as the burglar. He is now being held by the Roswell Police Department.

“You just try to prepare yourself mentally if something like this were to happen. But you never know what you are going to do when it does happen,” the 67-year-old clerk explained. 

Carlos Jeanpierre is currently in custody with the Roswell Police Department and is facing multiple charges which include: two counts of aggravated assault, attempted armed robbery, possession of a weapon, commission of a felony and burglary.