Walmart Monkey Junction Shooting: Dean Michael Newman, Wilmington professional criminal, arrested shot, Mark Thomas Paz, a store worker who tries to stop the thefts.
A Walmart worker in Wilmington was shot after trying to stop a suspect from shoplifting at the Monkey Junction store.
Dean Michael Newman35, the alleged suspect is charged with first-degree murder in the shooting of Mark Thomas Pass62, over the weekend.
According to to New Hanover County Sheriff’s Officearound 6:00 pm on Saturday several Walmart employees attempted to stop a shoplifting suspect at the store located at 5135 Carolina Beach Road.
One employee is dead after a shooting at the Monkey Junction Walmart in Wilmington
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Walmart’s policy on store workers trying to stop shoplifters
A fight ensued and “the suspect brandished a firearm and fired one shot, striking a Walmart employee,” according to the sheriff’s office.
Newman fled but was apprehended after a sheriff’s deputy confronted the man at parking lot.
It’s not yet clear what Walmart’s store policy is workers trying to stop shoplifting and whether the store requires employees to call the police instead of trying to confront the alleged shoplifters.
Shoppers who witnessed the “chaotic scene” have said WECT that people were running and running.
“It was pandemonium, everyone was running,” said Michael Juskinwho was shopping with his wife and child when the shot rang out.
“It’s definitely scary. Definitely not something you would expect. We just literally walked in, walked in, and it happens. I mean, it’s definitely an eye opener, said Caden Warholicwho said he was about 10 feet away from the shooting.
I suggested to a store clerk across from a Walmart store: “They just started running across the parking lot. There were people running out of Walmart and there were just a lot of cops coming. He was a regular here (to the victim), it’s very sad to know he was a very nice and kind person.
Newman remained detained in New prison in Hanover without bond and is expected to make his first court appearance Monday morning, it said Lt. Jerry Brewerdepartment spokesman, in a release.
Newman, according to North Carolina adult correctional records, has an extensive criminal record that does “habitual criminal”, The StarNews online reported.
Walmart released the following statement in response to the shooting:
“We are heartbroken about what happened to Mark. Such violence is unacceptable. We are focused on supporting our associates and will offer on-site consulting services. The store is currently closed and we continue to assist the authorities in their investigation.
The Walmart Monkey Junction store was closed Sunday and was scheduled to reopen Monday.