Harrowing Encounter: Police Officer Narrowly Escapes Death at Ohio Walmart
In a heart-stopping moment captured on body camera footage, what began as a routine shoplifting incident at a Canton, Ohio Walmart nearly turned deadly when a suspect allegedly attempted to shoot a police officer at point-blank range. The dramatic confrontation, which occurred last Thursday, showcases both the unpredictability law enforcement officers face daily and the remarkable intervention of a store security worker who potentially saved the officer’s life. Shane Newman, 21, and his female companion, Katerina Jeffrey, had been detained for allegedly stealing items from the store when the situation suddenly escalated from a calm interaction to a life-or-death struggle within seconds.
The body camera footage, which had been placed on a table during the questioning, initially showed a seemingly mundane scene in the store’s security room. The officer was calmly questioning the suspects who sat on a bench while a Walmart employee helpfully provided pen and paper for processing the incident. The atmosphere appeared relaxed, with no indication of the violence about to unfold. At one point, the officer assured Jeffrey that jail wasn’t likely “unless something crazy happens” – an ironic statement considering what would transpire moments later. During the questioning, Newman had claimed he only had a cellphone on him, and even voluntarily surrendered a small container from his pocket that reportedly contained illegal drugs, giving no hint of his concealed weapon or apparent deadly intentions.
Without warning, Newman suddenly turned, pulled out a concealed handgun from his shoulder bag that the officer had missed during the initial search, and attempted to fire directly at the officer’s head. In the video, Jeffrey can be heard screaming “No, no, no!” as a distinct clicking sound indicated the gun had malfunctioned when Newman pulled the trigger. In that critical moment when death seemed imminent, the weapon’s failure to discharge created the slim window of opportunity that made survival possible. Before Newman could rectify the malfunction, the quick-thinking Walmart security employee lunged forward, tackling Newman in a desperate attempt to prevent him from firing again. Despite being restrained, Newman raised the gun a second time and attempted to fire, with another audible click indicating a second misfire.
The heroic Walmart worker managed to knock the weapon from Newman’s hands during the struggle, allowing the officer to draw his own weapon and take control of the situation. The officer, showing remarkable restraint, did not fire his weapon despite the clear threat to his life because he feared hitting the Walmart employee who was still grappling with Newman. This split-second decision to hold fire while shouting “Get back! Get back!” demonstrated the difficult calculations officers must make even in life-threatening circumstances. The officer then successfully pinned Newman to the floor and held him there until additional police arrived to assist. In the tense moments that followed, the officer explained to responding colleagues how Newman had “pulled the gun out, pointed it at my head and pulled the trigger,” but fortunately, the weapon had malfunctioned.
Adding another layer to this already dramatic incident, the officer revealed that he had just received an alert seconds before the attack that Newman had an active warrant for his arrest and was classified as “armed and dangerous.” This information came too late to prevent the confrontation but may have contributed to the officer’s heightened awareness during the subsequent struggle. The officer also acknowledged missing the concealed gun during his initial search of Newman’s shoulder bag – an oversight that nearly proved fatal. This aspect of the incident highlights the constant dangers law enforcement officers face and how quickly routine situations can become life-threatening. The body camera footage serves as a stark reminder of how thin the line can be between life and death in law enforcement encounters.
Following the incident, Newman was charged with attempted murder and felonious assault on a police officer, while Jeffrey faces charges of complicity to commit robbery and having weapons under disability for possession of ammunition. The case underscores the dangers that retail workers and law enforcement officers face when confronting suspected shoplifters, who may be more dangerous than they initially appear. The Walmart security worker’s courageous intervention likely prevented a tragedy, demonstrating extraordinary bravery in a moment of extreme danger. This incident joins a disturbing pattern of increasing violence against both retail workers and police officers across the country, raising concerns about safety in public spaces and the escalating risks associated with even routine law enforcement activities.
