Can an armed security gurad shoot shoplifters?

U

USP45

New member
Great story!!!

Give the Guard a medal...

oh, and how long is it going to take to id this guy??? i don't suppose the wife and kids are missing him... eh?

http://news.shreveporttimes.com/010501/101/16518.htm

DA to review killing of alleged shoplifter
01/05/01
By Larry Burton
The Times

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


A private security officer who fatally shot an alleged shoplifter in the back has told Shreveport police she believed the man she fired on Wednesday night had a handgun.

Police did not find a gun on the 39-year-old Shreveport man who was chased to the rear of the Hearne Avenue Super 1 Foods store and shot. It will be up to the Caddo district attorney’s office to decide whether to charge the unidentified Wackenhut Corp. officer, not prosecute her or let a grand jury hear evidence and decide, police said Thursday.

Police wouldn’t comment on what the security officer said during about two hours of questioning by detectives. District Attorney Paul Carmouche said the officer told detectives she thought the man she shot was armed.

Authorities wouldn’t disclose whether the man who was killed might have done or said something to make the security officer believe he had a gun.

The deceased man still has not been positively identified, police Detective Chuck Andrews said. The security officer’s name is being withheld because she has not been charged pending the district attorney’s review, police said.

That review will seek to determine whether the security officer had reason to believe she was in imminent danger when she fired, Carmouche said.

"You are clearly not entitled to shoot someone just for shoplifting and running away. But if she believed he had a gun, that adds a possible element of self-defense."

The man who was shot allegedly had a dozen steaks in his pants as he fled through the store with the security officer in pursuit. Following the shooting, 12 steaks worth a total of $103.28 lay in a heap in the parking lot near the store’s rear loading dock.

Evidence gathered by detectives may be ready to present to Carmouche’s office sometime next week, police Lt. Russell Stroud said.

"We’ll then carefully look at it and decide how to approach the case," Carmouche said.

The shooting was termed "unfortunate, obviously" by Jim Gee, a spokesman for Brookshire Grocery Co., of which Super 1 is a division.
Click to expand...
 
Thunderbeef. Make you a bet it was a panic situation by the guard. Harsh judgement but if someone is fleeing and not threatening you got a real problem.

Bet you the company settles for a nice buck to the relatives.

Also, if he didn't have a gun or make a lethal force threat, I think it is unacceptable to shoot him dead. I don't by the posturing about this.

One day, your teenager may grab a CD - and run, want a minimum wage security guard or even a cop to splatter her brains out with a 230 gr JHP?

Give that guard a medal.
 
EnochGale ...

... it always pains me just a little when I agree with you. ;)

First, it sounds like the security guard made that easy mistake of speaking with LEO's without her attorney present. I certainly hope I'm never in such a situation, but if I am, and if I survive, I hope I'll remember the advice that has been drummed into me ... you don't say anything to LEO's without your attorney present. Too much chance the wrong LEO or prosecutor will get your case, and a foolish misstatement could send you to prison unjustly.

I agree that if this BG was fleeing, she might not be entitled to shoot, and we certainly don't want shoplifters executed. However, we don't know the facts yet. If she chased this guy, and he reached in his pants quickly while turning to face her, then I can begin to understand why she would fire. And, if she feared for her life, fired multiple times and the man turned during the fight, then one of her rounds could enter the back. We just don't know.

Still, she would have been much better off to keep her mouth shut until she received counsel. Damn shame on all counts.

Regards from AZ
 
Stores are heavily insured for small item theft. Now, don't get me wrong, I don't condone shoplifting due to the costs are passed on to me, the dummy who pays. BUT... I think a persons life is worth more then meat or a CD (I'll even go up to a 2000 dollar safe). Some crimes deserve what they get (the criminals).. i.e. being shot/killed during an armed robbery, physical assult upon your person, rapist, murderer and probably a few others. But shoplifting... I can't agree with that (as long as it wasn't an armed assult). One of the responsabilities that we, as gun owners/permit owners, have is the decision between shot or don't shot. The same goes for Rent a Cops (RAC).

I've, in my youth, have stolen. Little things, such as pens, a knife, and even food. Did I deserve to die over a 1.50? or even 123+ dollars worth of meat? No. If I pulled a gun or used that knife.. then yes.

EVERY man, women and 16+ year old has the right to carry a firearm. But it is also up to each and every individual to know the do's and don'ts; the responsabilities, that come with this Right. I disagree that the shooting was justified, unless it's proved that the perp. pulled a gun or any other weapon. The store can, and still will, write this off as a loss. The meat is no longer sellable, so the store gets a write off; the meat the person died for, is now in the dumpster. I don't agree with that.

USP45usp
 
I have to agree with what the other replies have said. I'd hate to think someone was shot in the back by some wannabe because they were hungry and posed no threat. More ammo for the anti's.
 
No problem if the robber was armed and threatening.
If they were fleeing with an exposed weapon - that is
a tactical decision.

If they were clearly not showing a weapon, then I just
am a big softie on this one. I don't want to preach but
life isn't worth property.

Sorry folks have to agree with me. Tell that to a moderator
on Glocktalk.
 
The first two sentences tell the whole story.

"A private security officer who fatally shot an alleged shoplifter in the back has told Shreveport police she believed the man she fired on Wednesday night had a handgun.

Police did not find a gun on the 39-year-old Shreveport man who was chased to the rear of the Hearne Avenue Super 1 Foods store and shot."

She got caught thinking and fired on a fleeing misdemeanant. She should fry for this one. Since when is the sentence for shoplifting death?

When it comes to felons, I believe that there should not be any limit on the amount of force which may be applied to secure the perp. Keyword: shoplifting: a misdemeanor.
 
Hey guys I don't want to Monday morning quaterback here but....
She BELIVED he had a weapon? If I belived someone might have a weapon and shot that person and said person died. Where would I be? Jail?
No weapon was found. So this guy was killed for stealing food.
Now if she was in fear of her life it's a diffrent story.
I don't see how a fleeing man with(now try to picture this guys)12 steaks stuffed down his pants,is a threat. Do you?
He was probably tring to pull his pants up!
This is a tragedy for all involved. I think scumbags who commit crimes of force,rape, violence whatever should be dealt with accordingly. But for someone to die simply for property that a multi milloin dollar chain store can write off anyway seems sad to me somehow.
If I offended anyone here with this post,I apoligize in advance. These are just my opinions,well you know what they say about those.....:)
45automan
 
I'm afraid that I must agree. Guard should be punished. As should the guy who followed daughter's rapist, and shot him in a bar. Vigilantism in both cases IMO...
 
Dennis,

I agree with you, up to the point of calling them both vigilantism; in the case of the guy who went in the bar and shot someone he suspected raped his wife, yes. In the case of the RAC who shot the shoplifter, several terms come to mind (scared, stupid, ill-prepared, poorly trained), but certainly not vigilantism. I believe they both should have their day in court.
 
Not to pass judgment on the security guard, but here in CA neither a security guard nor a police officer may shoot a shoplifter. Deadly force is only merited where there is a dangerous threat to oneself or others.
 
Did y'all catch the opening statement how a guard fatally shot an alledged shoplifter? Weren't the actions of the guard also "alledged" or what?
 
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