By james art 
WILMINGTON, N.C. (WWAY) — The New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office is investigating an incident that happened Saturday night at the Walmart in Monkey Junction.
According to officials, several Walmart employees tried to stop a man from shoplifting.
An argument ensued during which the suspect brandished a gun and fired one shot, striking a Walmart employee. The victim, identified as Mark Thomas Paz, tragically died at the scene. The suspect, Dean Michael Newman, was taken into custody and booked on first degree murder, without bond.
After the incident, Walmart closed, leaving many shoppers who arrived expecting to shop behind locked doors.
We’ve reached out to Walmart for information on the length of the closure. In a statement they said:
“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.
At this time, no timeline has been released for when the store will reopen.
Across the street from Walmart, employees of the Tobacco and Vape Mart witnessed the chaos unfold. One employee, Haven, recounted what she saw from her store window:
“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; very sad to know he was a very nice and kind person. Haven expressed her condolences, saying her thoughts and prayers are with the victim’s loved ones.