When a man punches a person in a wheelchair while taking something from a store, which offense is committed?

In this scenario, the appropriate offense is aggravated robbery. Aggravated robbery occurs when a person commits robbery while using or exhibiting a deadly weapon, or if the act causes serious bodily injury, or the victim is particularly vulnerable. Here, the man not only committed theft by taking something from the store—an essential element of robbery—but he also assaulted a person in a wheelchair during this process. The vulnerability of the victim, who is in a wheelchair, elevates the seriousness of the crime to aggravated robbery rather than simple robbery or theft alone, as it demonstrates both the use of force (the punch) against a person who is incapable of defending themselves effectively.

The other offenses do not encompass all elements present in this situation. While assault may be involved due to the punch thrown, it does not include the theft aspect. Simple robbery could apply as well but would not account for the aggravated nature of the crime due to the distinct vulnerability of the victim in this case. Thus, aggravated robbery is the fitting classification for this act.