# Shoplifter shot and killed at Walmart **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [April 22, 2012, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shoplifter-shot-and-killed-at-walmart/619555 "2012-04-22T03:12:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2012, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shoplifter-shot-and-killed-at-walmart/619555/41 "2012-04-22T18:50:57Z")
> [@Rand\_Rover](#): > > I’m gonna need to know the race/ethnicity of each person involved here before I can form a judgement as to the likely course of events. Kidding on the square? ---
**Author:** ![aktep](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f0a364/32.png) [@aktep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aktep)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2012, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shoplifter-shot-and-killed-at-walmart/619555/42 "2012-04-22T19:10:48Z")
Well, you know, sometimes [the shoplifter at Wal-mart kills the cop](http://www.kxan.com/dpp/news/austin/apd-officer-shot) instead. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2012, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shoplifter-shot-and-killed-at-walmart/619555/43 "2012-04-22T19:53:50Z")
> [@excavating\_for\_a\_mind](#): > > The “facts” that he first pulled a gun on the security guys, them came at them with a knife are only what the security guys are saying. These actions occurred behind closed doors with only security and the assailant present. If Wal-Mart is anything like where I work (and i’m fairly sure that it is), then everything that happens in the security office is on video from about four different angles and nobody at the store level has the ability to edit or delete any of the video. The LP would have to be pretty foolish to try to make up a story in those circumstances. ---
**Author:** ![Sleeps\_With\_Butterflies](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@Sleeps\_With\_Butterflies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sleeps_With_Butterflies)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2012, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shoplifter-shot-and-killed-at-walmart/619555/44 "2012-04-22T20:05:26Z")
> [@excavating\_for\_a\_mind](#): > > So, I question if the story we are given is 100% accurate. I question, even if it is true that the perpetrator carried a loaded handgun ( **it has been reported that he could not possibly have had a CCL due to legal reasons** ) and a knife, why the situation could not have been handled without killing him. Finally, knowing that it is highly likely the given story is not 100% accurate, I question what really did happen. This bolded part is the best part. Yes, yes.. the man who tried to rip off merchandise from Walmart has such a strong moral compass that he wouldn’t _possibly_ have carried illegally, why the very thought! The crazy positions some people will get in to find a conspiracy. ---
**Author:** ![armedmonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@armedmonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/armedmonkey)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2012, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shoplifter-shot-and-killed-at-walmart/619555/45 "2012-04-22T21:14:35Z")
Fools! We don’t even know if the man was shoplifting as we only have the officers’ word for it. Sure, they claim he was shoplifting in Walmart, but how do we know there even was a Walmart? Open your eyes, sheeple. He was killed to silence him before he could tell the world the truth behind 911. ---
**Author:** ![LouisB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dfb087/32.png) [@LouisB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LouisB)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2012, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shoplifter-shot-and-killed-at-walmart/619555/46 "2012-04-22T21:49:50Z")
If the shoplifter had been in Walmart de Mexico he could have bribed his way out. ---
**Author:** ![sparky\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/77aa72/32.png) [@sparky\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sparky_1)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2012, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shoplifter-shot-and-killed-at-walmart/619555/47 "2012-04-22T21:52:41Z")
> [@LouisB](#): > > If the shoplifter had been in Walmart de Mexico he could have bribed his way out. Haha **This post was by sparky!** ---
**Author:** ![Rand\_Rover](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/db5fbb/32.png) [@Rand\_Rover](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rand_Rover)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2012, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shoplifter-shot-and-killed-at-walmart/619555/48 "2012-04-22T23:48:13Z")
You know, I had hoped that our esteemed OP’s position was just a parody of typical Team Trayvon “thinking” as demonstrated in several recent threads, but I’ve been around the block enough times to know that he may actually be serious. ---
**Author:** ![SciFiSam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/47e85d/32.png) [@SciFiSam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SciFiSam)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2012, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shoplifter-shot-and-killed-at-walmart/619555/49 "2012-04-23T00:24:43Z")
Hell, I don’t like guns and am staunchly anti-death penalty, but I’d definitely shoot back at someone who was attacking me with a knife having just attacked me with a gun. I mean, I’m against _me_ being killed as well. > [@Rand\_Rover](#): > > You know, I had hoped that our esteemed OP’s position was just a parody of typical Team Trayvon “thinking” as demonstrated in several recent threads, but I’ve been around the block enough times to know that he may actually be serious. It does kinda read that way. But I’m on ‘Team Trayvon’ if anything and don’t see anything suspicious about multiple people all telling the same story backed up by CCTV. Kinda hard for them to pull of a conspiratorial lie in those circumstances. If it’s a parody, it’s a shit one - I think you’re right that it’s meant seriously. ---
**Author:** ![Lasciel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e79b87/32.png) [@Lasciel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lasciel)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2012, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shoplifter-shot-and-killed-at-walmart/619555/50 "2012-04-23T01:00:41Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > If Wal-Mart is anything like where I work (and i’m fairly sure that it is), then everything that happens in the security office is on video from about four different angles and nobody at the store level has the ability to edit or delete any of the video. The LP would have to be pretty foolish to try to make up a story in those circumstances. This is exactly what I was coming back to say. I’ve been in those offices before, and in the monitor station where you can see other people in those offices. There isn’t an INCH where there isn’t at least one camera angle covering it, and most of the room is covered by two, if not three, cameras at all times. If the security dudes are lying, then they’ve also got a pretty sweet security-camera hoax going on, and some really impressive groundwork laid for the day that they decided to off this dude for presuming to try and make off with a cart full of Walmart shit. Would you like a shovel to help with the excavating? I hear they’re on aisle 5. Just don’t stick it inside your shirt - k? :rolleyes: ETA - This post made by LASCIEL (just in case you didn’t realize it.) ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2012, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shoplifter-shot-and-killed-at-walmart/619555/51 "2012-04-23T03:49:51Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > I can’t imagine why a shoplifter would turn violent. It’s a fairly minor charge. Escalating it to this level is just… ridiculous. It’s not that minor, when you have a past criminal record. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2012, 5:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shoplifter-shot-and-killed-at-walmart/619555/52 "2012-04-23T05:08:24Z")
> [@Rand\_Rover](#): > > You know, I had hoped that our esteemed OP’s position was just a parody of typical Team Trayvon “thinking” as demonstrated in several recent threads, but I’ve been around the block enough times to know that he may actually be serious. You may have noticed that nobody’s jumping in to agree with him. The consensus seems to be that this was a justified shooting. It’s almost as if the people who have said Trayvon Martin shouldn’t have been shot are capable of making rational distinctions over what’s reasonable and what isn’t. ---
**Author:** ![ExcitedIdiot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ea5d25/32.png) [@ExcitedIdiot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ExcitedIdiot)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2012, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shoplifter-shot-and-killed-at-walmart/619555/53 "2012-04-25T00:35:34Z")
> [@Doctor\_Who](#): > > I haven’t read the particulars of this case yet, but I think Loss Prevention generally does follow you outside of the store so they can say in their report you passed by open registers and exited without paying. > > If they stop you in the store, the argument is “Hey - I was going to pay for it until Mr. Supercop grabbed me and said I was shoplifting… False arrest! Oh why was it under my shirt? That’s how I always carry things.” Not at Walmart. [This article](http://www.ocala.com/article/20091021/ARTICLES/910211015) is about a Walmart loss prevention officer being fired for chasing a shoplifter. Most chain stores have a no-chase policy. There are shopkeeper immunity laws in most states. They provide limited immunity for false imprisonment charges on store property. Since employees can’t be trusted to remember where property lines are, they instruct employees not to detain anyone outside the store. ---
**Author:** ![Lust4Life](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ecc23a/32.png) [@Lust4Life](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lust4Life)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2012, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shoplifter-shot-and-killed-at-walmart/619555/54 "2012-04-26T20:25:13Z")
> [@A Monkey With a Gun](#): > > Fools! We don’t even know if the man was shoplifting as we only have the officers’ word for it. Sure, they claim he was shoplifting in Walmart, but how do we know there even was a Walmart? Open your eyes, sheeple. He was killed to silence him before he could tell the world the truth behind 911. You shouldn’t have said that . You realise that now we have to silence you . [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shoplifter-shot-and-killed-at-walmart/619555.md?page=2)