A 19-year old man, Quaze Lanehart, was caught shoplifting electronic goods from a Walmart in Rochester Hills, Michigan. When confronted by store security, the man threatened them with scissors. When they followed him out to the parking lot, Lanehart's 12-year old brother threatened the employees with a handgun.
The pair were arrested. The gun turned out to be a realistic-looking Airsoft pellet gun.
From an article and news video:
Lanehart first was spotted in the Walmart's electronics department. He allegedly was loading up his cart with pricey TVs and notebooks. Instead of paying, he just pushed the cart outside.
"He went past all of the points to pay and was on his way out," said Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard.
Store security spotted him and brought him back inside for questioning. Police say that's when things got out of hand.
"He grabbed a pair of scissors and threatened to kill the store employees that were trying to detain him," said Bouchard.
Security followed Lanehart outside. Then, Walmart employees witnessed a real shocker. Lanehart's 12-year-old brother stepped out of a car pointing his airsoft gun at employees. The weapon looked like the real deal.
The boy allegedly told security to step back or they would be shot.
"Obviously that child is in a path with a very, very bad ending because of his relatives or whoever he is hanging around with. So hopefully this will be some intervention for the 12-year-old to get him on a different path," said Bouchard. "The 19-year-old has got a lot of serious charges."
Lanehart will be in court on Thursday facing felonious assault and theft charges. The 12-year-old boy was handed over to his parents. He likely will face some charges in juvenile court.
Lanehart was wanted on a domestic violence charge.
Pellet guns aren't toys, and are used often to intimidate, injure, rob, or even kill.
Walmart. Save money. Die faster.
