Dallas Police responded to a shooting at a Dallas, TX, Family Dollar store on November 29, 2022, and found a man suffering from a gunshot injury lying near the front door.
When the man entered the store, he was immediately recognized as a frequent shoplifter by the Assistant Manager, who suspected that the man was once again stealing items from the store. The Assistant Manager asked the man to return any stolen items and to leave. The man refuted the accusations and attempted to exit the store. The Assistant Manager took the man’s backpack to hold until the arrival of the police.
At this point, the man left the store but returned and started cursing at and beating the Assistant Manager. Another store employee witnessed this and began spraying the man with mace.
An armed customer inside the store saw the confrontation between the alleged shoplifter and the two female employees and shot the man. The suspect exited the store, fell near the front door, and died.
The shooter picked up his spent casing, stowed his firearm in his car, and awaited the arrival of the police.
The shooter stated that he feared for the safety of the two female store employees despite not having seen a weapon in the man’s possession.
Indeed, no weapons were found in the alleged shoplifter’s possession. Video of the incident showed the man hitting the Assistant Manager and her hitting him with a stick. The man was heading for the door when he was shot.
The shooter was arrested and charged with murder.
Always keep in mind that just because one can intervene does not necessarily mean that one should. It seems that the Assistant Manager had the situation well at hand, with the shoplifter unarmed and retreating. Once the shooter, now charged with murder, involved himself in a fight already being won by the “good guys” and against a retreating criminal, it is very possible that he forfeited his own liberty over a backpack full of dollar store merchandise.
