Two suspects were charged after a dramatic incident at a Canton Walmart where a man attempted to shoot a police officer, as reported by FOX 8. Shane Newman, 21, is now facing a litany of charges, including attempted murder, after he pulled a gun on an officer who was in the process of checking two suspects for stolen items and illegal drugs. Newman and his alleged accomplice, Katarina Jeffrey, 23, were initially stopped for shoplifting at the store on Atlantic Boulevard NE.
As seen in the body camera footage released by the police, the tense situation escalated rapidly when Newman was asked by the officer if he had anything that needed to be disclosed, which was promptly followed by Newman attempting to unsuccessfully discharge a firearm at the officer's head. It was a Walmart security employee's quick action that prevented a possible tragedy by pulling the gun away from Newman before he could try to shoot again. "As soon as he does that, he pulls the gun out, points it at my head and pulls the trigger. It doesn’t go off," the officer told his command officer, as per FOX 8.
After the attempted shooting, both Newman and Jeffrey were detained and charged. Newman, with his previous criminal history, is also charged with having weapons under disability and is being held on a $1 million bond. Jeffrey, who had two rounds of 9mm rounds in her pocket, is charged with complicity to commit robbery and having weapons under disability for possession of the ammunition, as reported by Alaska's News Source. Both appeared in the Canton Municipal Court on Friday following the incident.
In a statement obtained by Cleveland 19, Jessie Carpenter, Walmart Asset Protection Operations Coach, praised the courage of the security associate, stating, "We’re proud of the brave action our asset protection associate took to maintain the safety of everyone in our store." The incident has further sparked discussions on officer safety, with Canton Police Chief John Gabbard saying, "This incident is a reminder of the ever-present threat of violence against police officers and the gracious provision of God’s protection."
Authorities are continuing their investigation and are encouraging anyone with additional information to reach out. The upcoming court date for Newman and Jeffrey is December 23, which will likely provide further details on this case. Meanwhile, community members and law enforcement alike are gratefully acknowledging that a potentially deadly confrontation was narrowly avoided at the local Walmart.
