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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsThree Wal-Mart Workers Allegedly Kill Shoplifter In Georgia Parking Lot
http://www.addictinginfo.org/2012/11/26/three-wal-mart-workers-allegedly-kill-shoplifter-in-georgia-parking-lot-video/Three Wal-Mart Workers Allegedly Kill Shoplifter In Georgia Parking Lot
Detaining a shoplifter turned deadly outside an Atlanta-area Wal-Mart early Sunday morning, in a case that recalls a similar, yet not-fatal, assault by Wal-Mart loss prevention staff in 2010.
The deceased man, who appeared to be middle aged, exited through the front door of a Wal-Mart in Lithonia, Georgia with two DVD players that the employees say were stolen. Two Wal-Mart employees as well as a contracted security officer stopped the shoplifting suspect in the parking lot, where a physical altercation took place, which included the security officer placing the suspect in a choke-hold, reports the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
When police arrived, the three Wal-Mart workers were still sitting on top of the motionless suspect. Police quickly realized that the man was unresponsive and bleeding from the nose and mouth. An ambulance transported the man to DMC-Hillandale Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The medical examiner has not yet released cause of death.
Note to self. Really really avoid Wal-Mart this year.
Sgent
(5,857 posts)In many states, merchants are allowed to apprehend / detain people who are suspected of shoplifting until police arrive. However what they should have done was get a license plate, picture, etc. and turned it over to police.
What will probably happen: Security guards in question will be charged with some variant of manslaughter.
What should happen: Everyone up the chain of command who approved of the training which allowed for choke holds to be used is charged with negligent homicide -- including head of security, Walmart's HR, and possibly other executives.
geardaddy
(24,931 posts)ProgressiveProfessor
(22,144 posts)At least one had more details
BanTheGOP
(1,068 posts)There is no way an honest jury could vote for less; in fact they can triple awards. If the family would donate most of the money to worker rights causes and enforced unionization, and get a federal verdict, we can unionize the entire chain in one fell swoop, or shut it down completely. Either way, this poor man's legacy will live on to inspire millions of other progressive-minded workers.
Incitatus
(5,317 posts)to save their company a few dollars. Maybe they were aggravated with their situation and going after the shoplifter was an outlet for their anger.
Bucky
(54,087 posts)I've had friends who've worked as security guards. It's a demanding job. Not everyone who takes the barely-above-minimum wage job has the ideal qualifications of restraint and natural authority.
This was manslaughter and both guys need to go to jail for this. Whoever was supposed to supervise a/o to train this guard needs to be fired from the profession for life.