Police open fire on Walmart shoplifter who dragged officer with truck in New York

Occurred November 22, 2014.

Scene of officer-involved shooting at Amherst Walmart (source)

Ronald Kerling, 33, was caught shoplifting in a Walmart store in Amherst, New York.

Police showed up and confronted Kerling, with an officer attempting to catch Kerling in the man's pick-up truck, when Kerling drove off, dragging the officer along.  The officer's partner then opened fire on Kerling.

The first officer managed to extract himself, and Kerling fled.  He was later arrested at his home.

Kerling was not hit by gunfire.  The first officer was injured, as was another responding officer when he was hit by another patrol car.

From an article:

The suspect was able to get into the pick-up truck and drive off, while the officer was holding onto his steering wheel. The pick-up dragged him some distance, police say.

The other officer, fearing that his partner's life was in danger, started firing at the vehicle.

The officer being dragged by the pick-up managed to disentangle himself and the suspect sped off.

While all this was going on, another Amherst police officer on foot was hit by a patrol car arriving at the scene to assist in the arrest. He was seriously injured.

Later in the night, acting on tips they received from the public, police arrested the suspect. Ronald Kerling, 33, of Buffalo, has an extensive criminal history, police say, and he was on parole for a felony conviction in another jurisdiction when he allegedly tried robbing the Walmart.

Both the officer who was dragged by the truck and Officer Corey Brown, who was struck by the patrol car, were taken to Erie County Medical Center. Brown's condition is unknown at this time, but his injuries are serious. The other officer was treated and released. Brown was off-duty at the time of the robbery but answered the call anyway.

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Jealous ex-husband shoots rival in New York Walmart parking lot

Occurred June 4, 2014.

Inside the Queensbury Walmart after the shooting (source)

(UPDATED -- See below)

Robert Smith, a Walmart employee, was in his car in the parking lot of the store in Queensbury, New York, having just finished his shift, when a man named Raymond White walked up to his car and shot Smith three times with a shotgun, including in the face, chest, and shoulders, then fled the scene.

The store remained open during and after the shooting.

The shooter was found later and taken into custody, though he was suffering from a drug overdose.  He had a history of trouble with the law.

Evidence was found that indicated that White had recently discovered that the victim was dating White's ex-wife.

From an article:

The alleged shooter, who was identified by police as Raymond C. White, 54, of West Street, Lake George, was placed in custody at the hospital shortly before 1 p.m. Thursday, according to State Police.

Police said White had apparently overdosed on some type of drug at a home in Fort Edward and was taken to the hospital.

Glens Falls Police took him into custody without incident after staff there recognized him from news accounts, officials said. ....

Authorities said at least three shots were fired at the 57-year-old victim. He was expected to survive, but needed surgery for wounds to his face. ...

The victim was seated in a car parked next to the store, and police said at least a portion of the incident was captured by surveillance cameras on store property.

Dianne Gee, a spokeswoman for Wal-Mart, said the victim had finished his work shift and just left the store when he was attacked.

She said the store remained open Wednesday night as staff took the lead from police on how to handle the situation. The grocery entrance and portions of the store where evidence was located were cordoned off, and help was summoned for the victim, Gee said.

From a follow-up article:

Warren County prosecutors filed a handwritten note that White is accused of leaving for his wife, Priscilla Clark, in the days before the shooting ...

The note includes numerous profanities and accusations of infidelity, and ends with a comment about funerals.

“Now (expletives deleted) you get to choose which funeral to attend,” the note reads.
White, 54, of West Street, Lake George, nearly died of a prescription drug overdose in the hours after the shooting. He was hospitalized for three days, but has recovered.

White has been charged with attempted murder, assault and numerous lesser charges in connection with the June 4 shooting.

The Warren County District Attorney’s Office also filed copies of a text message exchange between Clark and White in which he quizzes her about his belief she was having a romantic relationship with a man who worked in the produce department at Wal-Mart.

That exchange, which occurred between his April arrest for stealing Clark’s dentures and the shooting, included a number of overt threats.

“If I catch him at 48 West (St.), somebody going to die,” White is accused of writing.
“Today, when I find out his name, I’m going to go see him,” he wrote.

In a text that was apparently sent minutes later, he said he knew the man was “the (expletive) in produce.”

“I’m going to see him now, and then I am going to come see you,” White wrote.

He also wrote that police “should have gotten me when they had the chance. Now I’m in God’s hands.”

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UPDATE (6/20/14):  White survived and has been arraigned. 

Report of a gun stolen from a New York Walmart

Occurred October 22, 2013.


Two people, Tara Reynolds, 34, and 22-year-old Brandon Duby, were arrested for possessing stolen property, in Ellenburg, New York.  Among the items found to be stolen in their apartment was a .50 caliber black powder long gun that was stolen from a Walmart store in Malone, New York.

From an article:

Police say after executing search warrant on Tara Reynolds, 34, and 22-year-old Brandon Duby's home they located many of the items from the burglaries and a stolen .50 caliber black powder long gun. The gun was stolen from a Walmart in Malone, N.Y. .... 

Duby and Reynolds were both additionally charged with 5th degree criminal possession of stolen property.  Reynolds was also charged with 4th degree criminal possession of a weapon due to a prior felony conviction.

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Armed robbery by two gunmen in New York Walmart

Occurred August 20, 2013.


Two men attempted a robbery, using guns, of a Walmart in New Hartford, New York.

From an article:

Marvin DeJesus, 22, of Utica, was arrested on Tuesday for charges of first-degree and second-degree attempted robbery, first-degree unlawful imprisonment, criminal possession of a firearm and criminal possession of a weapon, New Hartford police Investigator Matthew Sica said. 

The first suspect, Efrain Diaz, 23, of Utica, was arrested the same day as the reported robbery. 

According to police, DeJesus and Diaz allegedly entered Walmart around 3 a.m., displayed a handgun and demanded money. 

Eventually both men fled the store without getting any money, police said, and it is believed that they fled into the woods to avoid capture.

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Gunman robs New York Walmart .. again

Occurred July 11, 2013.


A report of an armed robbery by a gunman at a Walmart in Massapequa, New York:

According to police, at 10:12 a.m. on Nov. 19, 2012, a man entered the Walmart at 200 Sunrise Mall. He was armed with a gun and robbed the store of an undisclosed amount of money.

This same store was robbed at gunpoint back in May, and also had a report of a man with a stolen gun in it, back in February.

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Armed Robbery of New York Walmart

Occurred May 11, 2013.

Back in May, a manager allowed an unknown person into a Walmart store after hours, in Massapequa, New York.  That stranger then robbed the store, holding the manager at gunpoint.

From an article:

At 1:25 a.m. an unknown black male was let into the store, after closing, by a manager who assumed that the man was a store employee, according to authorities. 

Once inside, the man brandished a black handgun and ordered the manager to empty the contents of the store’s safe into a black duffel bag before fleeing the scene.

This store has now been robbed again (as of July 11, 2013).

This same Walamrt store also had a report of a man with a stolen gun, in February, 2013.

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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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Shot fired in parking lot of a New York Walmart hits car

Occurred January 22, 2013.

A shot was fired in the parking lot of a Walmart, in Batavia, New York.  

According to one report, the shooter was a white male, and the possible shooting victim was a black male.  Both left the scene.  It's unconfirmed if the target was wounded.

It was later discovered that the shot had hit a car, damaging the radiator, AC compressor, and transmission.

From an article:

State Police investigators have been looking into the incident ever since the report was filed on it that evening. 

Today, Investigator Andre Dunlap received a call after a local mechanic spotted a hole in the transmission of a car. 

That was an unexpected twist in the case that so far has not led to an arrest. 

Multiple law enforcement sources have said there may gang affiliations involved with the shooter and possible target and the shooting may be related to a prior incident months ago in the City of Batavia.

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Man shoots himself to death in New York Walmart parking lot

Occurred June 15, 2012.

An elderly man was in the parking lot of a Walmart in Warsaw, New York, when he shot himself to death in an apparent suicide.

From an article:

Deputies from the Wyoming County Sheriff's Office were called to the Walmart in Warsaw after witnesses reported seeing a man shoot himself. 

Authorities say the incident happened around 8:30 p.m. on Friday in the Walmart parking lot along Route 19. The Warsaw man was in his 70s and police are investigating the circumstances surrounding his apparent suicide. At least two witnesses saw the incident and several heard the gunshot. 

Deputies are not releasing the victim's name at this time.

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