DoorDash mom left with skull fractures, brain bleeds after man allegedly follows her and attacks with bat
JACKSONVILLE, N.C. — A DoorDash delivery driver was hospitalized with life-threatening injuries after authorities say she was beaten with a wooden bat by a stranger who followed her from an intersection altercation earlier this month.
Christen Phillips, a mother of three, was making a delivery in this Onslow County city on August 1 when the attack occurred, according to the Onslow County Sheriff's Office.
The incident began when Phillips stopped her car at an intersection and honked her horn because the vehicle ahead of her had not moved. The driver of that car, later identified as Stanley Shockley, 44, reportedly became enraged and began following Phillips after she continued on her route.
When Phillips arrived at her delivery destination and exited her vehicle to drop off the order, Shockley allegedly approached her with a small wooden bat and struck her repeatedly in the head and face before fleeing the scene.
"I don't remember it at all. I woke up an unverified amount of time later," Phillips said in a social media post describing the attack.
Despite her injuries, Phillips managed to drive herself to a nearby hospital. Medical examination revealed multiple skull fractures and brain bleeds. She also suffered a fractured cheekbone, and blood and cerebral fluid drained from her left ear for hours after the assault, she said.
Detectives with the Onslow County Sheriff's Office pursued the case following the attack, gathering tips and evidence from the public. Their investigation led to Shockley's identification as a suspect. He was arrested Monday and charged with assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill and inflicting serious injury.
Sheriff Chris Thomas acknowledged the public's concerns about the violent encounter in a statement, crediting community cooperation with helping investigators build their case.
"We understand the public does not see what goes into every investigation and a case like this can make citizens uneasy," Thomas said. "We appreciate the number of tips and leads the public provided us. Our detectives follow every lead, carefully work through the evidence, and continue to pursue answers even when the investigation presents challenges. Their hard work ultimately led them to identify a suspect and make an arrest."
DoorDash, the food delivery platform Phillips works for, responded to the attack with a statement expressing relief that the driver survived.
"What this Dasher went through is horrific, and we're relieved she's safe and on the road to recovery," the company said. "We're grateful to law enforcement for making an arrest and will continue to assist their investigation in any way we can."
Phillips, who remains hospitalized, described the attack in detail through her social media posts, which have since been shared widely online.
The case remains under investigation by the Onslow County Sheriff's Office.