Why are there so many shooting incidents and other gun crimes on Walmart property?

Thursday, February 27, 2014

California man shoots himself in the leg in Walmart parking lot

Occurred February 25, 2014.


A 27-year old man was walking with a relative in the parking lot of a Walmart store in Antioch, California, when he unintentionally fired the concealed handgun he was carrying, hitting himself in the leg.  He then lied to police, saying that someone else had shot at him, until police discovered the ruse.

From an article:
On Friday around 10:10 p.m., officers responded to Walmart, located at 4893 Lone Tree Way, for a man who had been shot, said Antioch Sgt. Tom Fuhrmann. 
The 27-year-old man told police he was walking with a relative when he heard a shot and felt pain in his leg. The man, who has not been identified, said at that time he had no idea who shot him. 
The man was treated at an area hospital and he was later released. Investigators found that evidence at the scene did not support the victim's statement to officers, Fuhrmann said; he did not elaborate. 
In a follow-up interview, the man revealed he had a gun when it accidentally went off and he shot himself in the leg.
The article didn't say if he had a permit to carry the gun.

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Saturday, February 22, 2014

Petition urging Walmart to stop selling guns for children

Despite Walmart having an awful record with gun violence, as this blog shows, they nonetheless continue to sell firearms.  

Sadly, one market that they sell firearms to is children.  Yes, children.  No, they don't sell them directly to kids, but rather to the parents for use by the children.  

Sensible people know that guns don't belong in the hands of small children, but that doesn't stop pro-gun extremists from arming their kids, nor does it stop Walmart from selling guns to them for that purpose.

Crickett is a company that makes such guns and directly markets them to children.  See HERE for examples of their marketing, and HERE to see one of their commercials.  The guns come in neato colors, making them look like toys.  There's even pink for little girls.  And Walmart is all too happy to help sell them.  From an article:
On its website, Wal-Mart markets the Crickett as a "youth rifle," while Gander Mountain's site describes it as a "great beginner's gun."
"All are lightweight and easy for youngsters to carry at the range and in the woods," reads the Crickett description on Cabela's site, which describes it as "a fun firearm to get your young shooter started with."
Wal-Mart did not immediately comment on whether their policy on sales of guns for children would change.
2-year old Carolyn Starks and her 5-year old brother
Here's a case where one of those .22-caliber Cricket rifles was used by a 5-year old boy to kill his 2-year old sister, Carolyn Starks.

The Coalition Against Gun Violence has launched a petition urging Walmart to stop this sickening sale of guns for small children.  I urge you to sign it.

From their page:

A new study shows that 20 children and teens are hospitalized every day for gun injuries in the United States.3 Nearly 2,700 children and teens died from gun-related injuries in 2010. U.S. children and teens are 17 times more likely to die from a gun than their peers in 25 other high-income countries combined.4
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has made it clear that “the safest home for children is one without a gun.”5 According to a past president of the AAP, “Firearm injuries are often fatal—there are few second chances. Young children are curious, and are often unable to remember or follow safety rules. Older children and teens naturally tend to be moody and impulsive. When you combine these traits with access to guns, the consequences can be tragic and permanent.”

Please sign the petition, and let's bring some sense to Walmart.  Otherwise, they will continue to be dealers of death.

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Friday, February 21, 2014

Football star shot in road rage incident at Tennessee Walmart

Occurred February 20, 2014.
Scene of shooting at Nashville Walmart (source)



Tennessee State University football player Cameron Carter got into an argument with another driver, while in his car, in the parking lot of a Walmart store in Nashville, Tennessee.  That's when the other driver pulled out a gun and fired at Carter, hitting Carter multiple times as well as his car.

Carter was taken to the hospital, treated, and released.

From an article:
Metro police said the student, Cameron Carter, a freshman at the school and the team's kicker, had words with another driver and the driver shot at him.
Bullet holes could be seen in the driver's side door of Carter's car in the parking lot.
Carter suffered multiple gunshot wounds including injuries to his face and shoulders.  He was transported to a local hospital where he was treated and released.
Cater told police he was headed to a local restaurant when a man open fired on him after blocking the intersection he was approaching. Carter said when he drove up on the sidewalk to pass that's when he was shot.
Metro police said the suspect, a black male dressed in all black, was driving a black Nissan Altima with black rims.
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Tuesday, February 18, 2014

Indiana robber threatens to shoot, then pistol-whips, Walmart employee in store

Occurred November, 2013.


Last November, 23-year-old Santeri S. Hill was caught stealing at a Walmart store in Fort Wayne, Indiana.  She left, and then returned with a gun, threatening to shoot an employee and then pistol whipping the employee.  Hill was later arrested.

Hill has now pleaded guilty to the charges.

From an article:
When she was confronted by a store employee in late November after being caught stealing, 23-year-old Santeri S. Hill left a Wal-Mart store and returned with a gun. 
After she came back inside, she threatened to shoot the employee and struck her on the head multiple times with the handgun, according to court documents. 
On Friday, Hill, of the 3700 block of Trace Way, pleaded guilty to Class C felony battery. There is no specific prison sentence outlined in court documents. 
A more serious charge of robbery will be dismissed if a judge accepts the plea agreement when Hill is sentenced in early March.
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Louisiana deputy shoots at Walmart robber in parking lot

Occurred February 16, 2014.
Scene of shooting at New Orleans Walmart (source)


(UPDATED -- see below)

A man robbed a New Orleans, Louisiana, Walmart store, saying he had a weapon, then fled with the money.

A responding deputy then fired at the fleeing suspect, and was nearly run over.

The suspect got away.

From an article:
The suspect went into the store, implied he had a weapon and demanded money from several of the store cashiers. 
The deputy, who was working a detail at the store, pursued the male suspect to the parking, police said. 
The suspect then got into a Ford Taurus, and began to drive away. The deputy then fired shots, two of which hit the driver's side door of a car in the parking lot, Stelly said. The suspect also tried to run the deputy over with the car, according to New Orleans police. 
The suspect then fled down Behrman Highway toward General de Gaulle Drive. 
Preliminary information indicated the suspect implied he had a weapon, but it was unclear whether he was armed, Stelly said. Police do not know if he was struck by gunfire. 
The deputy "did what he was trained to do on those details," Stelly said.
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UPDATE (3/12/14):  The suspect, Frederick Dwyer, has been captured.  From an article:
About 2 p.m. on Feb. 16, Dwyer walked into the Walmart at 4001 Behrman Highway, and approached multiple cashiers. He implied he had a gun, and demanded money from them.
Dwyer then took money from a cash register, and ran out of the store, police said.
Orleans Parish Sheriff's deputy Thomas Elder Jr., who was working a detail at the store, was alerted to the crime. He gave chase as Dwyer left the store.
Dwyer then got into a Ford Taurus to drive away, and attempted to run over Elder with the car, police records state.
Elder then fired three shots at the car, two of which hit the the driver's side door.
At the time, officials with the Orleans Parish Sheriff's spokesman said Elder "did what he was supposed to do" while working details.
On Feb. 27, police identified Dwyer as a suspect in the case, and arrested him on an unrelated municipal warrant. An Orleans Parish sheriff's deputy at the scene of the arrest also recognized Dwyer's car by to the bullet holes in the driver's side door.

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Man at Arizona Walmart threatens teens with a gun and knife

Occurred February 12, 2014.


A man got into a confrontation with a group of teen boys at a Walmart store in Flagstaff, Arizona.  He then urged them out of the store, at which point he threatened them with a knife and handgun.  When they reported it, he fled.

He was later arrested and the weapons were confiscated.

From an article:
Witnesses said the man became angry when one of the teenagers started rotating a jewelry display his wife was looking at. The teen apologized but a verbal dispute ensued. One witness heard the man suggest they “take this outside.” 
When the teen and his three friends followed the man out to the store’s Garden Center, the suspect pulled out a gun and a knife. At least one witness said they saw the man briefly point the gun at the teens and say, “Have you ever killed someone? Well, I have.” The teen told one of his friends to call the police and a Walmart employee told the suspect to leave immediately.
He then drove of with his wife on a motorcycle. 
Police pulled the couple over a short time later near West Route 66 and Railroad Springs Boulevard. The suspect said the teen had been disrespectful of his wife and refused to walk away. He admitted he had a gun and knife in his hands during the confrontation, but denied pointing the gun at the teen. He also claimed it was the teen’s idea to go outside to fight, and said he took out his weapons because he felt threatened. 
The gun and knife, as well as Walmart’s security footage, were collected as evidence.
You don't need a conceal carry permit in Arizona, and Walmart stores allow carrying of guns in their stores.

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Six assault rifles and another weapon stolen from Tennessee Walmart

Occurred February 13, 2014.
Scene of stolen assault rifles at Cordova Walmart (source)



Four men entered a Walmart store in Cordova, Tennessee, went to the gun department, broke into a display case, and stole six AR-15 assault rifles "plus another weapon" and escaped.

The guns have not been recovered.

From an article:
According to an incident report, what investigators describe as six "assault" rifles were swiped from one of the glass displays, plus a seventh weapon. 
Gun sales rack where the stolen AR-15s were kept (source)
Police identify one of the stolen weapons as the same model Bushmaster brand rifle used in the 2012 Sandy Hook School massacre in Newtown, Conn., where 20 children and six adults were murdered. 
"I have a child and don't want anything to happen to my child, and that means guns are just going to be out on the street," said resident Nikenya Rudd. 
Walmart continues to sell assault rifles, and is the leading retail seller of guns in the world.

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Shots fired in Craigslist robbery at Texas Walmart

Occurred February 13, 2014.
Scene of shooting at Missouri City Walmart (source)




(UPDATED -- See below)
35-year old Luke Kwan met with a man to sell his iPhone, inside a Walmart in Missouri City, Texas.

That's when the other man grabbed the phone without paying and ran away, hitting Kwan in the process, according to him.  Kwan gave chase, pulled out his handgun, and opened fire on the man in the parking lot.  Though the lot was busy, neither the robber nor any of the bystanders were wounded, though a nearby house was hit by a stray bullet.

The robber escaped.

From an article:
According to investigators, Kwan was meeting a man inside the store, who agreed to buy his iPhone. The man snatched the phone and took off without paying. Police said Kwan followed him and tried to shoot him in the parking lot with other customers around. 
“You have the right to protect yourself or prevent the theft of your property,” said Missouri City Police Lt. Paul Poulton. “But you have to do it in a responsible manner.” 
Nobody was injured in the parking lot shooting, but police said a bullet was found lodged in a nearby home. It’s not clear how many rounds were fired. 
Kwan is being held in the Fort Bend County Jail. He’ll have a bond hearing on Friday morning. 
Police are still looking for the man who stole his cell phone.
Kwan was not charged for carrying the gun, so he likely had a permit.

Is a cell phone worth killing someone over?

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UPDATE (10/15/14):  The case against Kwan was dismissed.  To see the story from Kwan's telling, see his Facebook page posting, HERE.

Four teens rob another at gunpoint at Delaware Walmart

Occurred February 13, 2014.


A 16-year old boy was at a Walmart in Camden, Delaware, when another teen boy lured him out to the parking lot.  On the edge of the lot, three more teen boys joined, and the four of them beat and robbed the victim, threatening to shoot him, then pistol whipped him.

The four boys, ages 15, 16, 17, and 19, were arrested.

From an article, which has images of the boys:
Arrested on first-degree robbery, assault and other offenses were Dover residents Keyan R. Williams, 16, and Kyshawn C. White, 17, along with Camden’s Cameron Wilson, 15, and Derrick C. Johnson, 19, of New Castle. 
A 16-year-old male victim located a Camden Police Department police officer in the parking lot, saying he had been beaten and robbed of money at approximately 3:15 p.m., Delaware State Police Master Cpl. Gary E. Fournier said. 
According to police, the victim said he was having lunch at McDonalds inside the Wal-Mart when he was approached by Mr. White, who asked to talk outside. Knowing Mr. White from school, police said, the victim agreed. 
The duo began walking north toward the Briar Park neighborhood when Mr. Williams and Mr. Wilson – also school acquaintances – approached, police said. 
At an area with bushes and a fence line, the three suspects began punching the victim while demanding money. Mr. Williams and Mr. White produced handguns while continuing the assault, police said. At one point, papers said, Mr. Williams pulled a knife and told the victim to stop yelling. 
The victim turned over an undisclosed amount of cash and the trio of suspects fled the area to a nearby vehicle and left. 
Mr. Williams hit the victim on the left side of his head with a gun butt “causing severe injury requiring three staples,” the DSP said in the arrest affidavit. 
According to charging documents, the victim lost consciousness for a few seconds and awoke to see the suspects running away before hearing “wheels squealing.”
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Man robs North Carolina Walmart at gunpoint

Occurred February 12, 2014.


A man robbed a Walmart store, threatening the cashier with a gun, in High Point, North Carolina.  He then fled.

From an article:
Police said the suspect walked in the store with a mask on and took a bank bag from a manager before he left. 
The suspect is accused of lifting his shirt to show his gun. Authorities said the suspect was caught on camera, but haven’t released the footage.
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Violent kidnapping at gunpoint and sexual assault starting at a Walmart in Indiana

Occurred February 6, 2014.


A female shopper returned to her car in the parking lot of a Walmart when a man, Michael Parrish, held a gun to her and forced her, along with another woman in the car and a 3-year old child, to another parking lot, where he raped both women.  He then made them drive to an apartment where another victim, a man, was tied up and he robbed the place.

Parrish has now been arrested.

From an article:
A woman told police she was returning her cart in the parking lot of the Avon Walmart Thursday night when she noticed a man talking on a cell phone. She told police he seemed agitated and was using profanity. 
According to police, the man followed the woman back to her car, then forced her at gunpoint to drive him from the Avon Walmart to a nearby apartment complex parking lot, where he sexually assaulted both women in the car with a young child in the backseat. The man threatened to kill the child if they did not comply. 
"Not only was this a crime in front of a child, but they are victim as well. It's something that this three-year-old is going to have to receive counseling for," said Avon Police Det. Sean Stoops. 
The victims were then forced to drive to their home in Clermont. That's where investigators say he tied up the women and a male roommate, then ransacked their home. 
The suspect fled with the victim's car, a 1998 green Chevy Blazer, along with laptops, a flat screen and cell phones. He told the women not to call police for two hours or they would be shot in the head, and that he had someone watching them from across the street. 
"They still have to live this terrible, terrible nightmare every second of the day now," Stoops said. 
Parrish was released from prison in the last year and a half after being sentenced for robbery when he was about 16 years old.
Parrish is also a suspect in other crimes.
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Man fires at vehicle in Oklahoma Walmart parking lot

Occurred February 6, 2014.


Police responded to a shooting at a Walmart store in Mustang, Oklahoma. Justin Smallwood, 29, of Oklahoma City, fired at an occupied vehicle in the parking lot, using a shotgun.  A police chase ensued, and when he was captured, he was wearing a bulletproof vest and, in addition to the shotgun, had two handguns, including one with a high-capacity ammo magazine.

Luckily, no one was injured.

From an article with a pic of the suspect:
"We had a subject that fired a weapon in the Walmart parking lot," Foley said. "He struck a vehicle that had three occupants in it. No one was hurt or injured." 
Foley said a Mustang police officer found the vehicle that matched the description, a silver Dodge Charger, and attempted to stop the vehicle. 
"The subject would not stop and a pursuit started," Foley said. "The pursuit went into Oklahoma City and ended at Interstate 40 and Council Road. He was taken into custody without incident." 
Justin Smallwood, 29, of Oklahoma City was taken into custody and booked into the Mustang city jail. 
"Something significant with this arrest is the firearms and ammunition he had with him," Foley said. 
Foley said Smallwood used a 12 gauge shotgun at Walmart. 
"When he was arrested, he was wearing a bullet proof vest loaded with extra magazines for both the rifle and handguns," he said. "There were two handguns laying on the passenger seat of the vehicle, one being a Glock firearm with an extra high-capacity magazine in it and the other being a .45 caliber 1911 style colt with another high-capacity magazine." 
Foley said he did not know what Smallwood's intent was at Walmart.
The suspect was heavily armed, including with an assault rifle.

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Shots fired during botched Craigslist robbery at Florida Walmart

Occurred February 4, 2014.

(UPDATED -- See below)

A man met with two other men to sell a $4500 ring, as arranged on Craigslist, in the parking lot of a Walmart store in Pensacola, Florida.

After the transaction, the two men who bought the ring then attempted to bind and rob the victim.  After the victim escaped, he then chased the two men, who then opened fire on him.  Police captured the two men.

Luckily, no one was injured.

From an article with pics of the suspects:
Darius Beasley, 21, and Jamichael Tucker, 19, were arrested Tuesday afternoon after deputies responded to reports of shots fired near the intersection of Pensacola Boulevard and Hood Drive, according to the report. 
A victim at the scene said he met Beasley in the parking lot after arranging to sell him a $4,500 wedding ring on Craigslist, the report said. The victim allowed Beasley into his vehicle, where they exchanged the ring and an envelope containing cash. 
The victim said that immediately afterward, Tucker approached the driver’s side of the vehicle and pointed a gun inside. Tucker then allegedly opened the door of the vehicle and attempted to put duct tape around the victim’s wrists. 
The victim was able to get out of the vehicle and run away, and the two suspects returned to their car and drove off, the report said. The victim began to chase the pair in his truck, and Tucker reportedly leaned out of his car window and began shooting at the victim. 
The chase ended when a deputy arrived on the scene and advised the suspects to pull over. 
Tucker and Beasley were taken into custody without incident, and no one was injured in the event.
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UPDATE (2/5/14):  Two suspects have been arrested. Both men are age 21.

UPDATE (11/5/14):  Both suspects have been sentenced.  From an article:
Jamichael Tucker pled to armed robbery with a firearm, aggravated assault with a firearm, shooting in or at an occupied vehicle, discharging a firearm and tampering with evidence. He was sentenced to a total of 20 years with a 20 year minimum mandatory for the discharge of a firearm charge. He is not eligible for parole and will be required to serve the 20 years day by day.
Darius Beasley pled to armed robbery with a firearm, aggravated assault with a firearm and possession of marijuana. He was sentenced to a total of  20 year in prison. He must serve at least 17 years.

Man shot at North Carolina Walmart

Occurred January 24, 2014.
Scene of shooting at Fayetteville Walmart (source)



25-year old Raeshean Calhoun was shot in the parking lot of a Walmart in Fayetteville, North Carolina, in what may have been a drug deal gone bad.  He then ran into the store and was eventually taken to the hospital for treatment.

From an article:

Raeshean Calhoun, 25, was shot in the hip about 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Fayetteville police said.
Calhoun was taken to Cape Fear Valley Medical Center for treatment. He was not listed as a patient in the hospital Friday night.
Police have not named any suspects and are continuing to investigate, said Lt. Todd Joyce, spokesman with the Fayetteville Police Department.
"At this point in the investigation, detectives have information that this might be in relation to the exchange of narcotics," he said.

This is not the first shooting at that Walmart store. From the same article:

Walmart on Skibo Road has had problems with crime before. In March 2011, it ceased operating 24 hours a day following a violent robbery and a shooting.
At the time, Fayetteville police reported that Walmart had four times the calls for service as the city's other two Walmarts.
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Monday, February 17, 2014

Shopper robbed at gunpoint at a Florida Walmart

Occurred February 7, 2014.
Suspect with stolen purse at Port St. Lucie Walmart (source)


(UPDATED - see below)

A shopper had just gotten into her car in the parking lot of a Walmart store in Port St. Lucie, Florida, when another driver pulled up behind her.  A woman got out, walked to her door, and pointed a gun at her.  The woman then fled to the other car with the victim's purse, and the suspects fled.

From an article and news video:
The victim told police she was sitting in her car when another woman approached her from the driver’s side window and pulled a black handgun. The armed woman demanded the victim’s purse and threatened to kill her.
The victim complied and the suspect then ran back to the getaway car and fled the scene, police said.
The investigation revealed that a black four-door car with an Illinois license plate (possible partial tag of CF253) pulled behind the victim’s car. The armed woman then got out of the passenger seat and approached the 67-year-old woman with a gun, police said.
She ran back to the car after stealing the purse and her accomplice drove away. The couple reportedly drove west on St. Lucie West Boulevard toward I-95.
Walmart.  Save money.  Die faster.


UPDATE (2/18/14):  Two suspects have been arrested for the robbery. A realistic-looking Airsoft pistol (which Walmart sells) was likely used.  From an article, which includes pictures of the suspects:
Police say that on Feb. 7 Stephanie Aubrey McKinney, 27, put a gun to a 67-year-old woman's head in a Port St. Lucie Walmart parking lot, threatening to kill her if she didn't turn over her purse. McKinney then ran to a waiting car driven by James William Bozarth, 40. 
Police first picked up the pair's trail after they began using the victim's debit card to withdraw cash. Surveillance video captured clear images of them both at a gas station, and the victim identified them as the people who robbed her. 
Police learned that Bozarth reserved a room at the Travel Lodge on Blue Heron Boulevard in West Palm Beach, where the pair were later arrested. They confessed to the robbery and police found the victim's purse and bank cards in the car and in the couple's hotel room, along with a black Airsoft pistol.
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South Carolina Walmart robbed at gunpoint by man in suit

Occurred February 5, 2014.


A man in a suit and fake beard entered a Walmart store in Pickens, South Carolina, and robbed it at gunpoint before fleeing.

From an article:
Police said the robbery happened about 10:40 p.m. at the Gentry Memorial Highway store.
The man walked in, pointed a pistol at the cashier and demanded money, according to police.
They said he was wearing a gray suit, hat and dress shoes and had a fake beard glued to his face. He was described as 6'3" tall and weighed about 240 pounds.
Police said they believe he had two women with him who were waiting for him up the road.
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Cross-dresser robs Georgia Walmart at gunpoint

Occurred February 2, 2014.


A man dressed as a woman entered a Walmart store in Athens, Georgia, pulled out a gun, and robbed the store, then fled.

From an article:
“About 12:30 a.m. a tall male dressed as a female used a gun to commit armed robbery at the Walmart in Oconee County,” said Chief Deputy Lee Weems. “He then exited on foot ... we are working some leads and aren’t certain how much cash (he) got away with.”
Weems said it was a cashier the robber approached.
The sheriff’s office issued an alert at about 1 a.m. that deputies were responding to the robbery. The alert described the suspect as “a very tall, skinny black male who was dressed as a woman and wearing a wig. The suspect had on a camo jacket and was carrying a camo purse.”

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Fight at an Arizona Walmart leads to man shot to death

Occurred January 16, 2014.
Scene of fatal shooting at Chandler Walmart (source)


(UPDATED -- See below)

Two men got into an argument at the service counter of a Walmart store in Chandler, Arizona.  One of the men, Kyle Wayne Quadlin, 25, pulled out a gun and shot the other, Kriston Charles Belinte Chee, 36.  Quadlin soon fled the scene.

Chee later died at the hospital.

Police caught up to Quadlin at his home.  Quadlin claimed self-defense.

From an article:
Detectives reviewing surveillance video report that two people -- Kyle Wayne Quadlin, 25, and Kriston Charles Belinte Chee, 36 -- got into a fight in the store, which ended in a shooting around 4 p.m. Sunday, Chandler police spokesman Joseph Favazzo said in a news release.
"It appears the two did not know one another," Favazzo said in an email to media outlets Monday morning. "The initial dispute broke out at the service counter."
According to police, Quadlin was losing the fight. Favazzo said he told officers he "was in fear for his life" when he pulled a gun and allegedly shot Belinte Chee.

Quadlin remained at the store for a little while and then fled. He didn't make any other threats, according to Favazzo.

Soon afterward, a family member called authorities to report his whereabouts. Police picked up Quadlin at the home and were questioning him. He was not under arrest as of Monday morning and was cooperating with authorities, Favazzo said.

Belinte Chee was taken to a local hospital in critical condition, but later died.
According to another article, the shooter never called police, but rather a family member reported him to the police, who then responded to the shooter's home to question him.


Walmart.  Save money.  Die faster.

UPDATE (3/3/14):  So far, the shooter has not been charged.  HERE you can see video of the fight and the disagreement at the Customer Service counter, which preceded the fight.  Chee is seen following the shooter toward the door, then shoving Quadlin first.  Was deadly force required?

UPDATE (3/19/14):  The widow of the slain man claims that he was defending her when he was shot to death, despite the claim by the shooter that he was acting in self-defense. Said investigators,
“It’s going to come down to what the witnesses have to say.”



Sunday, February 16, 2014

Walmart ironically provides money for an active-shooter program

The corporate office of Walmart recently made a generous donation to the local fire department in their company's home town of Bentonville, Arkansas, to fund an active shooter response training program.

From an article:
Walmart is giving the Bentonville Fire Department a grant worth $97,000 to fund active-shooter training. ....
“If something does happen, as terrible as that will be, that our emergency responders will be doing their best to help me, my family, my neighbors and the community,” said Ken Senser, of Walmart.
The training will look similar to a practice in Clarksville in 2012, except paramedics will not be armed.
“They’ll be wearing the same body armor that the SWAT team wears,” said Kevin Boydston, of the Bentonville Fire Department.
Crews will come in behind police officers to treat victims faster.
“It’s the one thing we can do that’s becoming prevalent in the nation with EMS and fire service is to incorporate these tactics and get them out there in order to save those lives that are near and dear to us,” Boydston said.
EMS crews typically wait until police clear a building in active-shooting scenarios, which can take 30 minutes or longer.
The Fire Department said they will begin their training in May.
I applaud Walmart for making this important donation.  Keeping the community safe against the increasing numbers of shootings is a valuable cause.

And Walmart stores, in particular, desparately need such training for their local emergency response departments.  With 81 shootings at Walmart stores in just the last year, plus at least 75 armed robberies in their stores in the last year, I'd say is more critical than ever that Walmart does something to clean up their act, even if it is just to fund their local departments.

Can they fund such a program in every town where they have a store?  They need it.

There in Arkansas, there have been at least 6 incidents in the last couple years, including a shooting at the Walmart store in Conway, Arkansas, of a Walmart employee by another Walmart employee, just a few days after Walmart made its generous donation.  Maybe they can start there?

Or, better yet, take steps to keep the shooting from happening in the first place, like prohibiting the carrying of guns in their stores, stopping gun sales, removing banks from the inside of their stores, and placing security guards in their parking lots....

Walmart.  Save money.  Die faster.

Walmart employee shoots another in an Arkansas Walmart store

Occurred February 2, 2014.
Scene of shooting at Conway Walmart (source)


(UPDATED -- See below)

Walmart employee Myron Terrell, 29, clocked out of his job at a Walmart store in Conway, Arkansas, then returned minutes later and shot a fellow Walmart employee, Lori Martin, firing multiple shots, then fled, but was later arrested.

Martin was sent to the hospital in critical, but stable condition.

From an article:

Conway police arrested 29-year-old Myron Terrell, of Conway, about an hour after officers said he walked inside of the business at 1155 Skyline Drive, shot at Conway resident Lori Martin multiple times and fled the store, the police deparment's spokesman LaTresha Woodruff said.
Martin was taken to Conway Regional Health System to be treated for her gunshot wounds and is in "critical, but stable condition," according to Woodruff. No one else inside of the store was injured in the shooting, and it was not immediately known how many people were inside.
Wooruff said Terrell was arrested at a Conway apartment complex and is being held at Faulkner County jail. She said Terrell worked as a part of the store's "maintenance crew" and said she did not know how long Terrell has worked at Wal-Mart.
The shooting occurred shortly before 10 p.m. Saturday, and Terrell fled before officers arrived, Woodruff said. Terrell had "clocked out" about 30 minutes before he had walked back into the store and opened fire. Woodruff said customers inside "started running from the store" when they heard shots being fired.
Related: an eyewitness account of the shooting.

Additional details came from another article:
Through video surveillance, police learned the suspect entered the store’s south entrance around 9:54 p.m., and “began walking down different aisles around the store” and seemed to be looking for someone. Police said the suspect was in the area of checkout aisle 9 and 10 when “he turned slightly to his left” and walked toward checkout aisle 7, according to the affidavit. 
“He walked straight toward a white female, Lori Martin, who was standing in line 7,” the affidavit states. “He produced a handgun from his waistband area, pointed it at Mrs. Martin and began firing multiple rounds from the weapon.” 
Police said the suspect then fled to a vehicle in the parking lot. Further investigation into the video surveillance showed the vehicle was parked in the same spot since around 1 p.m. 
Video surveillance showed the suspect previously entered the store, went to the customer service area and returned an item, the affidavit states. This revelation, along with witness and employee statements, helped police learn the identity of the suspect. 
Terrell was taken into custody outside his apartment in the 1800 block of Hogan Lane around 2:05 a.m. Sunday. 
According to the affidavit, Terrell admitted to the shooting while being interrogated by investigators. Terrell claimed he felt threatened by the victim and was tormented by her his entire life. 
“He could not give any facts to corroborate his claim as to how he was threatened or how he was being harassed,” the affidavit states. 
“Looking at video and talking to people led detectives to believe [the victim] was targeted, but no evidence leads to them knowing each other,” Conway police spokesperson La Tresha Woodruff told the Log Cabin Democrat on Sunday. 
Hours after his arrest, detectives obtained a search warrant and executed it at Terrell’s apartment, which yielded the discovery of a silver and black Ruger LC 9mm, one loaded magazine and “two large plastic vacuum-sealed bags containing a green leafy substance,” according to the affidavit. Two smaller plastic bags of the same green leafy substance and two digital scales were also found in the apartment, the affidavit states. One 9mm shell casing was also found in Terrell’s vehicle. 
The victim was transported to the Conway Regional Medical Center where she underwent surgery. According to the affidavit, the surgeon indicated Martin suffered injuries to her abdominal region and calf. The surgeon also indicated the victim had three “projectiles” lodged in her body, including one in her upper back, which resulted from a gunshot wound to her chest. 
Woodruff said Sunday that at last check, Martin was in critical but stable condition. A Conway Regional Medical Center employee confirmed Monday afternoon that Martin was still in the hospital’s Critical Care Unit.

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UPDATE (3/24/14):  Information on 911 calls, released.  See HERE.


UPDATE (6/24/14):  The shooter, Terrell, was found mentally unfit to stand trial, with a history of mental illness, had delusional beliefs, and "perceived people as zombies or demons."  From an article:

Although there was reason to think he was malingering, or faking symptoms, the doctor wrote, “there is considerable evidence to suggest that he also experiences legitimate symptoms of mental illness that could impair his capacity to testify, strategize with his attorney and adhere to a defense strategy, manifest appropriate courtroom behavior, and make rational decisions regarding his case.”
The forensic report indicates that Terrell perceived some people as “zombies” or demons, and that he “reported that he had never shot at a demon prior to the night of the alleged offense, saying ‘It was following me around. I hear it right now. It[‘s] trying to tell me to go to hell or give my soul, sell my soul.'”
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Shoplifters threaten Walmart employee with gun in Florida

Occurred January 14, 2014.


Two men were witnessed shoplifting remote control helicopters at a Walmart store in Fleming Island, Florida.  When a loss-prevention employee confronted the men, they pulled a pistol on the worker, threatening to shoot him, and then fled.  The men were later arrested.

From an article with images of the two suspects:
On January 14 Dennis Holcomb, 31, and 40-year-old Michael Robinson allegedly stole three remote control helicopters from a Wal-Mart in Fleming Island.
After attempting to leave the store through the garden department, the suspects were approached by a loss prevention officer in reference to the stolen merchandise.
Once the loss prevention officer identified himself, he was allegedly pushed by Robinson who also pulled out a pistol, according to a release from the CCSO. The loss prevention officer retreated and informed everyone that the suspect had a gun.
Both suspects fled the Wal-Mart in a gold four-door sedan.
On January 29, the same suspects allegedly stole five items valued at $54.73 from the Wal-Mart in Orange Park. Holcomb and Robinson fled the scene and were later found near the intersection of Parkwood and Blanding Blvd.
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Friday, February 14, 2014

Two young men found shot to death in a Tennessee Walmart parking lot

Occurred January 29, 2014.
Scene of fatal shooting at Murfreesboro Walmat (source)


(UPDATED -- see below)
Two young men, both age 19, were found shot to death in the parking lot of a Walmart in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.  

From an article:
The victims are Latre R. Lillard and Andre D. Chesterfield, both 19, Murfreesboro Police spokesman Sgt. Clyde Adkison said. The two men were cousins. 
Chesterfield is a former running back and safety for Oakland High School’s football team. He graduated in 2012, his former coach Thomas McDaniel said. 
McDaniel was shocked by his former player’s violent death, he said, because Chesterfield was a good student with a positive attitude. .... 
“We have no suspects at this time,” Adkison said. “The investigation is ongoing.” 
Officer Lo Sidadouangleuth reported that he responded to a call around midnight Wednesday from a local woman who said she found two men on the ground in the parking lot. 
When the officer arrived, he saw “a lot of blood near both subjects’ head area, they were deceased,” he reported. 
Sidadouangleth also found pieces of shattered vehicle windows near both subjects.
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UPDATE (7/10/14):  Two brothers have been indicted for the murder of Lillard and Chesterfield.  From an article:

Danarius Coleman and his brother, Demetrius, both originally from Chicago are to be arraigned on first-degree murder charges July 21, according to Circuit Court records. They are accused in the Jan. 29 shooting deaths of Latre Lillard, 19, and Andre Chesterfield, 19, of Murfreesboro, whose bloody bodies were found in the store parking lot off Thompson Lane. ... 
Danarius Coleman’s girlfriend, Ladorothy Morrison, testified in a March preliminary hearing that he told her he was getting ready for “an easy takedown” in a drug-deal robbery and later admitted he killed two people. 
Morrison testified she was working at Steak & Shake in Antioch that night when Danarius texted her and told her “something horrible happened” and he needed her to be with him. 
Morrison said she when he met her at his apartment that night he was carrying a bloody garbage bag and then told her about the murder and showed her cell-phone video from the shooting scene. 
“He basically said it was either him or them because they had guns on them, too,” she testified. 
Police targeted the Colemans as suspects after Demetrius reported his vehicle stolen the next morning. Authorities found the vehicle burned up and with some of the windows blown out. 
Danarius Coleman was arrested Feb. 5 at his Antioch apartment, and Murfreesboro Police arrested Demetrius Coleman two weeks later in Chicago with the help of authorities there.
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Gunman robs New Jersey Walmart

Occurred January 25, 2014.


A man wearing a wig entered a Walmart store in Bethlehem Township, New Jersey, and robbed the cashiers at gunpoint.  He then fled.

From an article:
Township police said the man was wearing a dark hood, a red-colored baggy winter jacket and dark pants. They said he used a dark-colored handgun to hold up the store's cashiers around 10 p.m. and got away with money and checks. 
The man — also wearing what appeared to be a dark-colored dreadlock wig, and fake dark-colored beard and mustache as a disguise — ordered employees to get on the ground during the robbery, police said. No one was injured. 
He arrived alone in the store's parking lot driving a black Kia Optima and left in the same vehicle, which was last seen exiting the lot toward Nazareth Pike.
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Gunman with inside information robs a Texas Walmart

Occurred January 28, 2014.
Gunman at the scene of the armed robbery at Spring Walmart



A man with a disguise entered a Walmart store at night in Spring, Texas.  Using employee garb and using an intercom to call a special code, he initiated a cash collection, then robbed the employee who collected the cash, at gunpoint.  He then fled in a getaway car with an accomplice.

From an article:
The robber came in dressed like a Walmart worker with some extra accessories. 
"According to witnesses, he was wearing a wig, sunglasses in the middle of the night and he had some type of lip balm or gloss," said Sgt. M. Alvarado with the Harris County Robbery division. 
Surveillance video shows him walking around the store. 
Investigators believe the robber may be a current or former employee because he had inside information that only workers would know. He used an intercom to announce a special code, signaling a worker to go to the front of the store and collect the cash. 
"She got a call on the intercom, I guess to pick up some special thing, and she knew what that meant," said Lucy Taylor, the victim’s mother. 
Seconds later, the suspect approached the employee who had just finished collecting money from the registers and placed it in the money cart. 
The robber pointed the weapon at the woman and pulled the cart out of her hands. 
He ran outside where a getaway driver was waiting. They struggled to get the money cart into the trunk of the white Expedition. 
While that’s going on, employees were yelling at them to stop. The suspect pointed the gun at them as they sped away.
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Shoplifter with gun threatens Walmart worker in Maryland Walmart

Occurred January 20, 2014.


A Walmart customer in Aberdeen, Maryland, attempted to shoplift a cell phone.  When a loss prevention employee confronted her, she pulled out a gun and threatened him, then fled.

From an article:
The shoplifter, a woman, was seen hiding a phone at the store, in the 600 block of South Philadelphia Boulevard, at about 11:33 p.m., Aberdeen Police Department spokesman Lt. Fred Budnick said Tuesday. 
She was approached by loss prevention officials after she passed all the registers without paying. The woman then produced the weapon, causing store officials to back off and ultimately notify police, Budnick said.
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Man with BB gun threatens Maryland Walmart worker

Occurred January 21, 2014.


A man entered a Walmart store in Laurel, Maryland, and attempted to return an electronic tablet.  When he was refused, because he didn't have a receipt, he became angry and pulled out what appeared to be a "machine gun" and threatened to shoot the worker.  When she screamed, he ran away.

He was soon caught and arrested.  The gun turned out to be a realistic-looking BB gun.

From an article:
A woman working at the customer service counter told police Iqbal approached the counter and attempted to return a used electronic tablet device, but his request was refused as he was unable to provide a receipt. He then took a pair of headphones off of his head and requested to return them as well. His request was again denied because he didn’t have a receipt. 
That’s when things turned worse. 
Police say Iqbal placed a backpack on the counter, took out a black sub-compact machine gun, later identified as the BB gun, and pointed it at the employee. He demanded that money be returned to him. When the Wal-Mart employee yelled, Iqbal fled through the front door without getting any money. 
Patrol officers found him on the side of the Wal-Mart walking away from the store. He was taken into custody without incident and positively identified by Wal-Mart employees as the person who attempted the robbery. 
The BB gun was recovered in the suspect’s backpack.
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Wednesday, February 12, 2014

Man steals thousands of rounds of ammunition from a Colorado Walmart

Occurred October 14, 2013.

A man entered a Walmart store in Centennial, Colorado, forced open a locked case, and stole around 2,100 rounds of ammunition, loading it into a shopping cart.  He then left the store and fled.

From an article:
On Oct. 14, 2013, the man entered the Walmart store at 10900 E. Briarwood Ave., forced open a locked case containing ammunition, loaded the ammunition into a shopping cart, and rolled it out of the store, the sheriff's office said. The suspect then reentered the store and was seen leaving with a bag containing unknown items. 
The sheriff's office said the man stole: 
--About 1,000 rounds of .223-caliber ammunition, which can be used for military assault rifles like the AR-15 and bolt-action "varmint" hunting rifles.   
--About 1,000 rounds of 7.62 mm ammunition, which can be used for military-style rifles, including AK-47 assault rifles. 
--About 100 rounds of .40-caliber ammunition, which is primarily used for handguns.  

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