By james art 
The incident happened early Saturday night at the south New Hanover County store, which remained closed Sunday
(This story has been updated to add new information.)
A man is facing first-degree murder charges after an employee at a Monkey Junction Walmart was shot and killed during an attempted shoplifting Saturday night.
Dean Michael Newman, 35, was arrested and charged in the death of Mark Thomas Paz, according to District Attorney Rebecca Zimmer Donaldson.
According to the New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office, around 6:00 p.m. Saturday, several Walmart employees attempted to stop a shoplifting suspect at the store located at 5135 Carolina Beach Road.
A struggle ensued and “the suspect brandished a firearm and fired one shot, striking a Walmart employee,” according to the sheriff’s office.
It’s unclear what Newman was trying to steal.
Newman fled but confronted a sheriff’s deputy in the parking lot and was taken into custody, according to the sheriff’s office. He is being held in the New Hanover County Jail without bond and is expected to make his first appearance Monday morning, Lt. Jerry Brewer, a spokesman for the department, said in a release.
According to NC Department of Adult Correction records, Newman has an extensive criminal record, including crimes in New Hanover and Brunswick counties that led to his charge as a habitual offender. He was released from Greene County State Prison in August after serving more than eight years behind bars, according to the DAC’s offender database.
A security guard was at the Monkey Junction store early Sunday informing customers the store in southern New Hanover County was closed and told the StarNews the sheriff’s office was also making the rounds.
A Walmart employee told the StarNews the store could reopen Monday.