C&P Newswire
Canton, Ohio
In a startling and potentially deadly encounter caught on body-camera and surveillance video, a shoplifting suspect attempted to shoot a police officer inside the loss prevention office of a Canton Walmart last Thursday, but the firearm failed to fire — allowing the officer and store security staff to subdue the man without any injuries.
The incident unfolded at about 1:45 p.m. on December 18 at the Walmart on Atlantic Boulevard NE when Canton police responded to a report of suspected shoplifting. Officers were processing the two suspects — 21-year-old Shane C.L. Newman of Plain Township and 23-year-old Katerina D. Jeffrey of Canton — inside the store’s loss prevention office when Newman suddenly drew a handgun and pointed it at the officer’s head.
According to police, Newman pulled the trigger but the gun did not discharge. A nearby Walmart loss prevention associate immediately lunged at Newman, wrestling the firearm away from him. The officer then took Newman to the ground and placed him in handcuffs. No shots were fired and no one was hurt.
Body-camera footage shows the tense moments leading up to the attempted shooting, including the officer asking Newman during a pat-down if he had any weapons — to which Newman said he only had a phone — before suddenly producing the handgun. Jeffrey can be heard repeatedly shouting “No, no, no!” as the situation escalated.
After the struggle, police confirmed Newman’s firearm had malfunctioned or was not properly chambered, and that his attempt on the officer’s life was thwarted only by the weapon’s failure to fire and the quick action of the Walmart employee.
Newman now faces a series of felony charges, including attempted murder and felonious assault on a peace officer, as well as robbery and weapons charges. He is being held in the Stark County Jail on a $1 million bond. Jeffrey has been charged with complicity to commit robbery and faces a separate bond of $500,000.
Canton Police Chief John Gabbard praised the rapid response from both the officer and Walmart’s loss prevention staff, saying the incident “is a reminder of the ever-present threat of violence against police officers” and underscored the unpredictable dangers routine calls can pose.
Walmart officials echoed the sentiment, emphasizing that the safety of customers and associates is always a top priority, and commending the actions of the asset protection employee who helped prevent a tragedy.
The harrowing encounter has drawn attention to the everyday risks law enforcement and retail workers face — and to the rare but real moments when a malfunctioning weapon may mean the difference between life and death.
