16-year-old shot by security guard dies (Nov. 4, 2002)

The Dallas Morning News ^ | November 4, 2002 | By IAN McCANN / The Dallas Morning News

[MeekOneGOP]

16-year-old shot by security guard dies

Teen theft suspect dies; security guard charged

11/04/2002

By IAN McCANN / The Dallas Morning News

A 16-year-old who witnesses said was shoplifting died Saturday night, several hours after being shot in the head by a shopping center security guard.

Leshard Wilson was shot about 2:15 p.m. in a parking lot behind a shopping center as he and two other boys ran from the security guard. Dallas police Sgt. Gary Kirkpatrick said Sunday that the two other boys fled from the shopping center in the 1500 block of South Buckner Boulevard and have not been identified. Leshard died about 8:50 p.m. at Baylor University Medical Center.

WFAA-TV

Police take security guard Bernie Pointer Jr., right, into custody.

The private guard, Bennie Franklin Pointer Jr., 50, of Dallas, was charged Saturday with aggravated assault, but the charge was changed to murder on Sunday after Leshard died. Mr. Pointer remained in custody at Lew Sterrett Justice Center on Sunday, awaiting arraignment on the murder charge.

Mr. Pointer's family declined to comment.

Family members and friends gathered Sunday at Leshard's home, less than a mile from the shopping center. They declined to comment on the incident but said that funeral plans were still pending.

A representative of Mr. Pointer's employer, North American Security Group, said Sunday that the company would make a statement Monday afternoon.

Police said that the three boys were thought to have been shoplifting at the Family Dollar store on Buckner, just north of Lake June Road. Sgt. Kirkpatrick said that there was no evidence behind the store to show that Leshard had stolen anything.

Although state law allows security guards to use deadly force to protect property, Sgt. Kirkpatrick said that Mr. Pointer appeared to have overstepped his authority as he fired the single shot that hit Leshard.

E-mail imccann@dallasnews.com

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Online at: http://www.dallasnews.com/latestnews/stories/110402dnmetshooting.13730add.html

[Tijeras_Slim]

Armed Mall Ninjas scare the hell out of me.

[July 4th]

Check this out: Arming mall guards to the teeth

[SouthernFreebird]

Shoplifting at the family dollar? what the h*ll did this guard think he'd gotten away with that was worth killing him for?

[HELLRAISER II]

They sometimes scare me also, however the little pricks probably were stealing something. I don't agree that it was enough to die over, but sometimes we get what we ask for and if they were stealing they were begging for trouble. Well he sure got it.

[umgud]

Let's wait for the rest of the story...... did the kid act in a manner that posed a threat? If not, law or no law, I can't see any justification to shoot a fleeing shoplifter.

[EggsAckley]

This should be interesting due to the race issue. I'm willing to bet that the victim is black, as is the shooter.

[mountaineer]

Good point. The kid probably got away with nothing more than a couple of candy bars. What a waste of a life.

[Illbay]

A 16-year-old who witnesses said was shoplifting died Saturday night, several hours after being shot in the head by a shopping center security guard.

How I wish someone could monitor this mall, and find out if the incidence of shoplifting goes down dramatically.

I wouldn't be surprised if it did.

[Illbay]

I'm willing to bet that the victim is black, as is the shooter.

In which case, there IS no "race issue." Only when the VICTIM is "of color" and the shooter, white, is there an "issue."

[HamiltonJay]

Anyone who steals anything always risks being killed by the owner of the property, or agents thereof. This is the way it has always been. I agree this guard likely stepped over the legal line in this case, from the limited information available here (which is very limited).

Granted the law if they are arrested does not allow execution for the theft of a small item, but a theif always can be justifiably killed in the commission of such a theft. This is a tragedy all the way around, a 16 year old who had nothing better to do with his time then try to rob a family dollar, and a 50 year old mall guard who stepped over the line, and will likely have the rest of his life ruined as well... There is nothing but human tragedy all over this one.

[neutrino]

Sorry, folks, but I'm not in harmony with the rest of you on this one. It is long past time to stop the thievery and other petty crime that is transforming our communities into little Hells. We lower our standards, we forgive, we give Heaven only knows how many additional chances...and what do we get? More (and worse) crime.

So place me in the column of hoping the security guard is acquitted.

[HiJinx]

You're absolutely right, which works to 'our' advantage in this case.

The real issue is crime and punishment, not race.

Question: Is the security guard guilty of a crime, or is he guilty of extremely poor judgement in carrying out his duties?

[Tijeras_Slim]

I agree that the kid was lookinng for trouble. But I have a real problem with giving rent-a-cops the ability to utilize lethal force. The only justification I can see for it is to protect one's own life or the lives of others.

[Illbay]

My favorite line from the link you posted:

Yes Im not a Green Beret but guess what neither are you and unlike you I have to face unruly shoppers every day.

Reminds me of the Knights of the Round Table in Monty Python's Holy Grail, being attacked by the Killer Rabbit!

"Those unruly shoppers are DYNAMITE!!!"

[cajun-jack]

I know many of you will disagree with me, but it was the kid that was wasting his life..the only way to stop this little marauders is to kill a few of them and the rest will get the message....granted, a good load of rock salt in the butt like the farmers used to give us for stealing their watermelons would probably have been just as effective. The times have certainly changed when the criminals have all the rights and honest citizens have none.

[Illbay]

Of course, a load of rock salt in the butt would have resulted in a multi-million dollar lawsuit from the kid's family against the mall--which is going to happen at any rate, I guarantee you.

This kid's family's just hit the jackpot. They likely got rid of a real headache of a problem, and in return they're going to be rich beyond anything the Texas Lottery could have paid out.

[cynicom]

Only a couple of candy bars???...

Nothing is worth a life, with that in mind, one has to view what the results are to any business.

Recently I went thru a one day loss incurred by a local chain pharmacy store, with the manager. They had no daily loss on small items, candy bars etc, however the one day loss on larger ticket items was staggering. The losses incurred in the store have to be made up somewhere, so the paying customer pays the bill.

[joesnuffy]

It is a tragedy that this 16 yr old young man had to die...its also a tragedy that he was a thief
and whatever else he was... was he an honor student?..a great humanitarian going out of his way to tutor less abled younger kids at school?...was he a youth volunteer watching over the younger kids? or was he just another gang banger headed for the joint and a name change to Muhammed?

If the guard is charged with murder found guilty and sent to prison...this will send another message to the predators..and to the protectors..

Predation and violence will increase and he protectors will become increasingly more corrupt as they see they have no backing...they will simply look the other way..

Hopefully the guard is aquited..a 50 yr old is no match speed wise to a 16 yr old (gang member?) So how is he supposed to stop crime in 'his' store?....

If he is aquitted shoplifting and other crimes in that mall and area will drop..if he is convicted they will likely increase imo. Its the difference between having a dog that bites protect your property and one that just lays down and lets the theives take what they want...including lives.

Coddle predators you get more predation (this applies to both two and four legged varitities imo)

[eastforker]

My only problem with this incident is this.Had the gaurd been an off duty policeman,he would not have been arrested.He would have been given time off,with pay while the shooting was investigated and reinstated after it was determined to be a rightous shoot.