A father of two is in the hospital after the Pitt County Sheriff's Office says he was shot multiple times during a botched robbery attempt.

The shooting happened inside the Roadside grocery store in the small, quiet town of Falkland around 9:00 p.m. Thursday.

The shooting victim, identified as Ranjit Patel, is described as a kind man who loves his community and his family.

Tonya Harris lives near the store. She says, "I'll never forget the sound of that scream, it was horrible." Tonya and her husband were the first on the scene. "My husband ran to the corner first and Ranjit said I've been shot. We respect both of them, him and his wife, they do a great job here and I hate that happened to them, I really do".

Patel's wife Usha, says her husband is well known in Falkland, and is shocked anyone would intentionally try to harm him. Usha says, "Yeah, it's painful and we have a good neighborhood over here."

The Pitt County Sheriff's Office says the store had a surveillance camera, but that it wasn't working.