Armed vigilante shoots at shoplifter in Florida Walmart

Scene of shooting at Orange City Walmart

Occurred February 27, 2013.

A 42-year old man, Eddie McKee, attempted to shoplift a shopping cart full of meat at an Orange City, Florida, Walmart, knocking down a woman in the process.  

A number of people chased after him, including a person who did not draw their concealed handgun.

But another man, Jose Martinez, 35, decided to play vigilante.  He confronted McKee and then fired a number of shots from his concealed 9mm handgun, shattering McKee's rear window and putting a number of holes in the car, as well as in a number of other cars.  Martinez has a conceal carry permit.

Though the parking lot was busy, luckily no one was injured.

McKee was captured by police a few blocks away.  He is being charged for the shoplifting.

Martinez later claimed that he "wanted to mark the suspect's car" for police.  He also claimed self-defense, saying that McKee was trying to run him over, but this isn't supported by video evidence, which shows that he shot at the car when the car was driving away.  He is now being charged with felonies.

From an article and news video:

But police said Martinez only was bumped by the shoplifter's getaway car because he was chasing after the car and even tried to open the door to the moving vehicle before he opened fire. 

Eddie McKee, 42, was caught shoplifting groceries at the Walmart and took off when security confronted him, knocking down a woman, according to police. 

Several other people chased after the alleged shoplifter, Eddie McKee, and another man was armed but he never drew his gun. McKee was arrested in DeLand shortly after. 

Police said McKee then jumped in his car and took off, but bumped into another car in the parking lot, that's when police say bullets started flying. ... 

"I saw one black gentleman running from the parking lot, he dove in his car. And there were two older gentlemen chasing him down. One drew a gun, ripped open the guys car door and screamed, 'Freeze, freeze, don't move!' And then fired shots," said one 911 caller. 

As the bullets hit the getaway car -- piercing the trunk and shattering the back window -- police said bullets also hit at least two other cars. 

Martinez said to Local 6, he thought nobody else was in danger by his gunfire and he was surprised police arrested him. Martinez started opening fire because he said he wanted to mark the suspect's car as he fled from the scene. He has his concealed weapons permit but has been charged with two felonies, aggravated assault and shooting into an occupied vehicle. 

After reviewing store security video, police said Martinez's story doesn't add up. They believe he was never in danger because the shoplifter was driving away from him and everyone else.

(a related article and news video).

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ADDENDUM (3/1/13): A related blog post on this incident, with video of the shoplifter pushing down a bystander.

UPDATE (3/2/13):  See HERE for raw video of the shooting in the parking lot as well as the way the suspect knocked down a bystander.

Deadly shooting at Florida Walmart parking lot

Scene of fatal shooting at Jacksonville Walmart

Occurred February 26, 2013.

Two young men were sitting in a car in the parking lot of a Walmart in Jacksonville, Florida, when a third man walked up to the car, possibly entering the vehicle.

Shots rang out, shot by that third man, who then fled.  The two men in the car fled as well, to a nearby gas station.  One of them was injured and later died.

From an article and news video:

"Officers went on location at both scenes simultaneously. What we found here was a victim with life-threatening injuries, he'd been shot. He was taken to Shands (Jacksonville Medical Center) and has since died, so this is a homicide," Judge said. 

Homicide detectives were interviewing witnesses and searching for the shooter. 

"Talking to witnesses, it appears the victim and another male were in the vehicle together, when a third male approached them on foot," JSO Sgt. Shawn Coarsey said.  

"The third male possibly got into the vehicle with them. Something happened at that point. Shots were fired. The third male got out of the vehicle and fled on foot." 

Investigators did not know if the suspect knew the victim and his friend.

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UPDATE (3/1/13):  The victim is identified as 21-year old Anthony Blake Bannister.  

The shooting was apparently a drug deal gone bad.  Two people have been charged in the shooting.  From the article:

Jameel Malik Burroughs, 19, was the triggerman who shot twice into a car with two men inside, said Lt. Rob Schoonover. He and De’Jon Frazier, 18, were charged with murder Thursday. 

Burroughs and Frazier, who are roommates in the 8000 block of Atlantic Boulevard, attended welding school with the victim, Anthony Bannister, 20 and his companion in the car, Frederick L. Philips Jr., 19. 

Schoonover said Burroughs and Frazier were arrested at the Tulsa welding school less than 48 hours after the shooting. 

The four met to make a marijuana deal about 8 p.m. Tuesday at the Walmart at 8808 Beach Boulevard. At some point in the deal, Burroughs got out of the car and shot twice, Schoonover said. Phillips, who was not wounded, drove Bannister to a nearby gas station. From there, Bannister was transported to Shands Jacksonville and died. 

Schoonover said the robbery was planned. Marijuana taken in the shooting was found in Burroughs’ and Frazier’s apartment.

UPDATE (8/13/13):  A Facebook page was set up in honor of the victim, Blake, back in March.
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Rifle stolen from Texas Walmart display case

Occurred February 26, 2013.

A man, Jose Johnson, age 22, walked into a Walmart in Alice, Texas, broke into a display case, stole a rifle, and fled the store, all within four minutes, and no one tried to stop him.

From an article:

Jose Johnson, 22, was arrested Tuesday for Theft of a Firearm after APD was able to identify the man using surveillance video from Wal-Mart, according to Chief Randy Weems.

A theft of firearm and criminal mischief were reported at 2:34 a.m. Tuesday at 2701 E. Main St. APD Criminal Investigators had Johnson arrested by 3:25 p.m. that afternoon.

Officer Jesse Garza, Sgt. Daniel Elizondo and CID Sgt. Matt Cooke responded to the location, at which someone had broken into a gun case.

According to the report, the Wal-Mart employee said a rifle was stolen from the gun case, located in the sporting goods section of the store. 

Officer Garza reported that the employee reported the theft occurred around 10:46 p.m. Monday night. The time was confirmed by security footage of the incident.

The report indicates that the suspect took about four minutes to access the case and leave the store. However the specific make and model number of the rifle was unknown.

Officer Garza reported that the employee would have to research inventory to find out what was stolen and report the serial number to the department.

According to the report, the suspect was wearing dark pants, a dark hooded jacket and a dark shirt. The suspect left the parking lot in a dark color four-door car. 

The lock that secured the rifles in the gun case, which was valued at $50, was damaged.

Yes, Walmart makes it that easy.

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Gunman attempts to rob Walmart in Michigan

Occurred February 24, 2013.

A man walked into a Walmart in Sault Ste Marie, Michigan, and attempted to rob a cashier, using a gun, but the attempt failed and he fled.

From an article:

On February 24, 2013 at approximately 8:45pm officers responded to a robbery at the Walmart in the Station Mall. A lone male entered the store wearing a black balaclava.  

The male approached a cashier and requested the cashier to open the cash register. The suspect put a gun to the cashiers head but when the cash register could not be opened the culprit fled the scene.  

The suspect is described as 5 feet tall with a stocky build, wearing blue jeans and a black jacket. The investigation is continuing.

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Conceal carry permit holder unintentionally shoots self at Ohio Walmart

Scene of shooting at Moraine Walmart

Occurred February 19, 2013.

A man with a conceal carry permit was trying to park and holster his weapon at the same time, in a Moraine, Ohio, Walmart parking lot when he unintentionally discharged the gun, hitting himself in the leg.

Walmart stores allow conceal carry of guns in their stores, as allowed by state regulations.

From an article:

It happened around 3:00 pm Tuesday in the Walmart parking lot on Dorothy Lane in Moraine. 

Police say the man, who has a concealed carry permit, was trying to holster his weapon when it went off. 

"It's very uncommon," said Moraine Police Sgt. Russ Imler, "This is the first time I've responded to an incident like this involving a CCW permit holder.  I believe that he was looking for a parking space and holstering his weapon, doing too many things at once.  

He was taken to the hospital, but is expected to be okay.

This may be the same Moraine Walmart where, in 2008, two men robbed and shot a woman in the parking lot.

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UPDATE (2/20/13):  Some more details on the shooting, from another article:

The man, whose name and age were not released, told police he was moving his gun from the glox box in his truck to the gun’s holster when it discharged. He drove up to the store’s entrance closest to the pharmacy, went inside and asked for assistance. 

Medics were called to Walmart just after 3 p.m. on a report of someone who had been shot showing up at the big box store. 

His injury is not life threatening, Moraine Sgt. Russ Imler said. The man was taken to Kettering Medical Center.

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Man caught with stolen gun in New York Walmart

Occurred February 18, 2013.

A man was caught shoplifting in a Walmart in Massapequa, New York.  Found on his person was a gun which had previously been reported stolen.

From an article:

Alexander Hollinsworth, of North Bellmore, is being held on $10,000 bond. 

He was picked up Saturday night at a Wal-Mart in Massapequa. 

Police say in addition to the stolen goods, he had a handgun that had been reported stolen in New York City.

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Teen girl and a security guard injured in shooting at Memphis Walmart

Scene of shooting at Memphis Walmart Neighborhood Market

Occurred February 18, 2013.

A teen party was being held at the Zodiac restaurant and lounge, at night, across from a Walmart Neighborhood Market in Memphis, Tennessee, when around 300 of the teens were turned out of the club.  From an article:

“When we reached capacity, we had our courtesy officers to tell every child to leave our lot, call their rides or whatever they needed to do. We are just trying to give back to the community and we are giving them something to do,” said manager at Zodiac Restaurant and Lounge Anita Poplar.

Several dozen of those teens then went over the to Walmart store, where there were then reports of "looting and vandalizing" of the store by the teens.

Then shots were fired inside the Walmart store.  When police responded, they found a 16-year old girl shot in the leg, and a 21-year old security guard shot and injured.

A 16-year old boy was caught with a rifle, and another was arrested for disorderly conduct and evading arrest.

Walmart.  Save money.  Die faster.