Don’t know if all Academy’s are laid out the same, but at our local store, the firearms are toward the back of the store and the thief would have to navigate a virtual maze before getting to the front door.
I can see employees getting disciplined for trying to apprehend a thief over a stolen jacket, but a firearm? They were protecting the community as well as their store. Ammo is on shelves next to the firearms counter, so he could have been leaving the store with a gun and ammo. I’m sure any victims would sue Academy for lax firearms security.
Firing them is nuts.
Why should an employee be discipline for their attempt to stop a shoplifter? Stealing is wrong no matter what is being taken, the person who is doing the “Right” course of action should never be punishes, the criminal should. There are too many corporations who are too quick to punish their employees than go after the thief.