Texas Cashier Clubs Deaf Customer For Not Talking

By Kevin Cokely KXAS/NBC News Channel

FORTH WORTH, TX -- A Family Dollar clerk in Forth Worth, Texas was charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon after police said he used a crowbar to club a deaf customer. Cody Goodnight, 30, has been deaf since before the age of 2 and uses sign language to communicate.

When Goodnight tried to pay for two bottles of Sprite with a $5 bill he was assaulted by the store clerk. Investigators said the clerk, 20-year-old Ricky Young told them he thought Goodnight was being rude by not talking to him and hit him in the head with a crowbar.

Goodnight said he is still scared to return to the store or any other place alone. The clerk faces years in prison if convicted, authorities said.

A spokesman for Family Dollar said the store is conducting its own internal investigation into the incident.

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