It is not OK to steal. But last I checked, the penalty for shoplifting (a misdemeanor) was not death. Hell, in most cases the only penalty is a civil fine.
Did you read the Texas law I cited about what owners of property. or their agent, are permitted to do to secure stolen property. If he had stopped when he was detected instead of running this incident would have never happened. If he had not run he would have been taken into custody, went in front of a judge and because of his past record probably gone to prison.