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Subscribe to RSSA suspected shoplifter died early Sunday after a confrontation with Walmart employees and a security guard in the store parking lot in Lithonia, Ga., WSBTV reported.
According to the DeKalb County, Ga., police report, officers arrived around 1:30 a.m. to find the employees on top of the middle-aged man, who reportedly was caught shoplifting two DVD players. When an officer placed the man in handcuffs, he noticed the man didn’t resist him. That’s when he realized the man was unconscious and bleeding from the nose and mouth, according to WSBTV.
Paramedics transported the man to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Further investigation revealed that a “physical altercation” had taken place in the parking lot, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. One of the employees had reportedly placed the man in a choke hold. The cause of death, however, has not been determined.
Dianna Gee, a Walmart spokeswoman, released a statement Sunday saying that both employees had been placed on paid leave. She said the security guard would no longer provide services for the store.
“No amount of merchandise is worth someone’s life,” Gee said in the statement, according to the Journal-Constitution. “Associates are trained to disengage from situations that would put themselves or others at risk.”
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well he won't need obama care.
You're an idiot.
Walmart greeters are looking tougher by the day. Ever noticed the lack of employees to actually HELP folks? Ever think it was odd for a Superstore that has 25 checkouts yet only has two people to work the registers (usually there is a line there of about ten folks). Want a price check? Go to a pillar and scan it yourself. Walk out and a beeper goes off, that greeter is now the enforcer of all that beeps, intent on taking you down because the part-time employee who checked you out didn't clear the theft-tag. Walmart sucks more and more with every ticking second. They are intent on trimming the corporate fat and eliminating human interaction, which, oddly enough, is their main selling point when they pimp a new store in a new town that will shut local stores down. "We bring jobs to your area." ....and you'll NEED them after we take over your town......yet they are eliminating them in every way possible. Robotics will take over for stocking help. Walmart is terrible.
Yeah, but another criminal is off the streets permanently.
AAAARRRRRRR!!!!! The pyrate says: Don't be killin a man for...Or Wench, for stealin, just put up more cameras and watch them take their leave...why try to hurt someone or get yerself all a damaged in a scuffle ifin ya don't have to...right? Let um have it...an catch them at home with their ill gotten Booty.
AaMm!! Betcha that THUG won't be stealin nothing no more HUH?!!!!!!!!!!
I worked for W. They, being management, do not support employees in any given situation. They pay little and offer no incentives or benefits - to continue this they keep employees working hours just under the limits of the law. And God forbid they should unionize - everyone loses. Walmart will fight til the end of time rather than give up any money or benefits. But in the matter of security - they pay untrained, underpaid individuals who are struggling to have a job like so many other folks in this very bad economy. However, even in training as a cashier, stocker, floor person or whatever, if you see or have any idea there is a theft in progress you may NOT, as an employee of Walmart, touch that person until AFTER that would-be thief crosses out of Walmart's doors. Then you can ask then to stop, grab their body if you dare, but certainly call for backup if the do not respond or if they resist. The rules are quite clear - you may not get into a total physical altercation with the thief. There are cameras everywhere in Walmart that can help identify the individual later on. Usually the thief is a regular anyway, already in a mug book. For up to five people to be on top of this thief is unnecessary and can and does cause death. And for a DVD player or two death seems so over the top it frightens me. What if the employees and robo-not made a huge error in judgement? Then this man is actually dead for nothing. Sure there are some missing parts to the story, but one damn thing for sure - I WOULD NEVER WANT ANY HUMAN BEING KILLED FOR SHOPLIFTING FROM WALMART OR ANY OTHER STORE. As human beings we have lost our way ..... just sad, oh so sad
Good post.
Sad many here are so barbaric. It's scary to think that people feel a petty crime should be punished with death.
People really don't have their priorities straight these days.
jak
Ya, Walmart is going to take the time to track someone down for 2 DVDS. That is why they hire Loss Prevention, TO PREVENT LOSS.
In addition, who made anyone work at Walmart. No one is forced to work anywhere, therefor, nobody should be crying like a little girl for not liking their job.
The mob evident from these posts would have killed him and then shredded the body as a warning to other would be shoplifters. Guilty or not the example would be meant as a deterrent to future shoplifters. I'm gonna go watch cat videos on youtube so that I can clear my thoughts of this tragic story and the street justice bloggers thoughts.
I've worked retail. We were never trailed to chokehold people trying to steal. We were supposed to try to stop them, remember as much as we could about them, and press the "panic button." I'm glad I haven't shopped at WalMART since 1998 (except to cash in one gift certificate). What an appalling place - to encourage employees to use a chokehold on a shoplifter.
You HAVE to be out of your mind or have an intense disconnect with reality in the retail world,or society in general if you think Walmart ENCOURAGES choakholds. I can't BELIEVE three people voted your comment up. Stupid is everywhere. Its astounding. I dislike Walmart as much as most people but thats just plain silly.
It is sad this man lost his life this way. The choke hold was a bit excessive.
So many people, but not enough resources.
Although some lawyer(s) will be paid to handle this case, it seems
certain there is a lawsuit looming over this.
Actually, employees and security are allowed to physically detain suspects who are witnessed or suspected of having committing a crime.
Detention is one thing, arrest is another. Deadly force is not authorized in detentions. And the law only provides for that force necessary to affect an arrest. Deadly force is to be utilized as a last resort to protect your life, your fellow officers life or the life of an innocent by stander. Maybe the alleged suspect was threatening to smash the head of the security officer with the DVD player and that officer felt that he was in eminent danger of gross bodily harm or death and as a result, deployed deadly force against the suspect. That would be my story and I would stick to it.
Screw the person who thinks its ok to steal...consequences to any crime are up to and include death!
Hope that's sarcasm there. Otherwise move to Afghanistan.
He would just progress to more serious crimes...how out crimes against your Fam???
That's some convoluted thinking, dude.
Does it start with jay-walking and lead to mass murder, in your mind?
Death is not the proper punishment for shoplifting. But killing someone is in some states. Walmart just is having a bad time lately. Too bad for them. Terribly sorry for the dead man.
I think you folks are all Guilty! If I see you spank your child,walk on my grass, run a red light,Play music louder than I like,Speed, or Smoke weed..... IM Cappin all YA. LMAO at all
of you who think your that far above the law.
"Shoplifting=Death. Do you think this is fair!"
Details will come out on the cause of death. If it was unintentional then yes, I feel it is just what happened. Too bad so sad. What is the option? Just institute a policy of not doing anything to stop shoplifters? How long could I stay in business if I openly allowed shoplifting?
He chose to steal. He could have just as easily run in front of a car while trying to get away and been run over and killed.
I think its pretty sick to say that a shoplifter got what he deserved by dying. What kind of a cruel jerk would say that?...not a parent I hope! Killing a shoplifter, is worse than the crime of shoplifting, joseph, you moron. You need to move to the middle east, where you would fit right in.
Don't steal DVD's at Walmart......hello.
I love happy endings, the pathetic, POS died while shoplifting, Love it we need more stories of this nature, kudos to the employees and security guard!
What's incredible s how many FEEL SORRY FOR THE THIEF!!! What a country!!! Land of the morons and home of the imbeciles. Everything is free for the taking. Money really does grow on trees.
It's a matter of the punishment suiting the crime.
The world is not black and white.
Well, since the president can get away so much, the sheeple think they are entitled to do the same.
*ALLEGED THIEF* cmon get it right. Judgement i hope that one day you are accused of doing something wrong when you haven't, lets see how defensive you are towards the people that accuse you. Then we may see another story of another death of a THIEF.......
Lots of comments...mmmm...maybe we should get the actual facts first...and what does the President have to do with it? Shoplifters have been around for ever..Democrat and Republican...That just shows how weak-minded our society is..and thats a problem that needs to be dealt with by all..
The store employee probably fought for his own life. Too bad this happened, but these are the consequences that are faced when an individual commits crime. And this man was probably a repeat offender. Everybody else has to purchase products, what makes some think that they can just take them freely by any vicious means possible?
It sounds as though the precipitating factor was the theft. Had the man not stolen anything, none of this would have happened. Yes it's sad someone died, but the person who is dead made a conscious decision to commit a crime. Consequences, ramifications, accountability...lost principles for many Americans.
I doubt he would have stolen anything had he known the consequence would be death. Get real.
He obviously thought the risk was worth the reward. He was wrong. His assessment of the risk/reward equation obviously didn't involve death as a factor. But then again, most criminals don't figure it as a factor. Evidently, committing criminal acts involves accounting for death as a possible outcome. He simply failed to take into account all the factors. Too bad for him.
Well, I guess we won't have to worry about him takin' 'nothin' else, will we?
Guh!
since when is stealing not black and white. did he take food to feed his homeless kids. or gas so he could make it to his first day of work. Not only no but he...double hockey sticks...no. a "pair" of dvd players. who needs 2 dvd players. unless the plan is to sell one to buy smoke. never had to suffer much have ya there stevie. well that day is coming friend mainly because of the attitudes of people just like you.
And the problem with this thief dying is? And don't give me this alleged crap. That's a cover your ass comment.
Well I say wait for the autopsy report. The fact is he put his own life in danger by not paying for items. He stole two dvd's, was it worth it, not by any means. He should have thought about the consequences. I mean if you have a stealing habit, get help for it, if you don't have the money to pay for it, then in my opinion you don't need it, wait to get the money. Either way he was the criminal. He won't be stealing anything anymore.
"he put his own life in danger by not paying for items"
Seriously? Is there a sign in the store that says "shoplifters will be killed in our parking lot?"
The consequences are supposed to be arrest and likely a fine--not death.
Next time you run a red light, they should take you and anyone else in your car and shoot you all, execution style right there on the road--according to your logic.
Can I come to ypur home and steal your stuff??????
I agree with steveyo lets start having citizens start killing others for random crimes and hey lets do it if you think someone has commited a crime too......
LAWSUIT. This is why employees are told not to engage thieves.
Would really like to hear more details about this case! I'm sure we aren't getting the whole story! Very interested to find out what the official cause of death will be for this man! We definitely need more details though...for example, I would like to know what the shoplifter did specifically that made the employees feel like they had to choke him and pin him on the ground instead of letting the police handle it!! Even if he was going to get away, so what...write down his license plate number and give it to the cops when they get there! Something isn't adding up here! Something else had to have happened to make things go so terribly wrong! From the sounds of it, the man probably deserved some fines, community service, or jail time for the crime he DID commit, but I can hardly credit that any court in the country would have ordered him to death for stealing two DVD players! Wal-Mart...you better hope his death can't be directly tied to what happened in your parking lot, otherwise I have a feeling you are in for one hell of a lawsuit! Eek!!
Don't commit a crime and there are no worries after that...go figure!!!