Florida shoplifting suspect impales self on stolen knife, police say

12news ^ | 5-7-17 | unattributed

[smokingfrog]

A 53-year-old man stole a knife from a Lowe's Home Improvement Center, then died after he impaled himself on it as he ran from the store, the Plant City Police Department said.

Police said they received a call about 6:40 p.m. about a shoplifting in progress. Store officials told them a white male subject -- identified as Jerry Ellis Word, 53 of Lakeland -- had entered the store, 2801 James L. Redman Parkway, removed a knife from its packaging, then hid it on his person. Word then left the store without paying for it.

When he was confronted by store personnel, Word brandished the knife at them, employees said.

He ran southwest toward Parks Springs Apartments, 300 Park Springs Circle. While fleeing with the knife, however, police said Word somehow impaled himself on the knife.

[SuperLuminal]

"...somehow impaled himself on the knife."

Would have been better if he was impaled in the back.

[GnuThere]

It would make a good Farmer’s Insurance ad:
“And we covered it. Word.”

[bboop]

OH GOOD GRIEF, the things you can learn on Free Republic. That image is forever engraved in my brain. So - did you guys have those shrunken Amazon heads in Elementary School?? Brings it right back.

[Celtic Conservative]

His father met him around the corner, told his son he had dishonored himself and the family and must commit seppuku. The son obliged.

CC

[smokingfrog]

I might have to follow that guy.

[smokingfrog]

love it!

[lurk]

Can the knife be cleaned and put back on display for sale?

[Defiant]

A 53-year-old man stole a knife from a Lowe's Home Improvement Center, then died after he impaled himself on it

It is an improvement.

[Delta 21]

....somehow.....

[smokingfrog]

Open box special...

[Nailbiter]

never heard- do not run with knife in hand

[\/\/ayne]

Brandished, then impaled was the Word who ran...
What do you do if you brandish...
then trip and fall on knife hand?

[piasa]

Apparently Word got the point...

[piasa]

Bladerunner?

[PreciousLiberty]

That was my best laugh of the day...thanks!

[sport]

Mark

[jonrick46]

It is good he didn’t suffer a Bobbitt. That would have really hurt.

[Robert357]

Clearly a failure of proper knife control laws. There should be a minimum 14 day waiting period before a knife can be obtained from a store.

But he stole it! That doesn’t matter, such legislation, if it saves but one life would be worth it. We need knife control laws.

(/sarcasm)

[353FMG]

Ouch! That hurts.

[husky ed]

If this is a new promotional their running 'Steal A Knife - Stab Yourself' than I'm all for it.

Ed