[Tijeras_Slim]

Armed Mall Ninjas scare the hell out of me.

[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?

[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.

[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.

[AdA$tra]

I want to hear the rest of the story. I have wonder if the kid made a threatening move. Otherwise, there should be dead bodies all over this and other mall parking lots. I doubt it was the guard's first day on the job.

[Movemout]

Stop them in the store or let them go unless you have a positive ID. Then refer the matter to the cops. Quite basic actually.

Shooting this punk while he was running away was an error of the first magnitude. I'm not sure a rent-a-cop in a Dollar Store merits being armed with a handgun in anyhow. A billy club seems to be more appropriate.

[Atlas Sneezed]

Random thoughts:

1. Nice shooting. Head shot hits a moving target. This guy does not appear to be a cop.

2. If it had been a cop, he would be on paid leave pending an internal investigation that will exonerate him.

3. If more shoplifters got shot and killed, society would be better for it.

[Atlas Sneezed]

Bang

[from occupied ga]

Sgt. Kirkpatrick said that Mr. Pointer appeared to have overstepped his authority as he fired the single shot that hit Leshard.

Yes. He certaintly did. Only the police are allowed to summarily execute fleeing suspects (or anyone else for that matter).

[Joe Hadenuf]

Ummm, this was in Dallas.....Thought you may be interested in this.............

[mil-vet]

Tragic unless the teens were stealing. If stealing, still tragic, but without the crime, nothing would have happened.

Stop with the BS of permissiveness! Start with the wisdom of accountability - NOT for the guard, but for the perps!

[ContemptofCourt]

All the Freepers on this thread that justify the killing of shoplifters....how does that make us any different than the Taliban? Even the bible does not justify death for thievery.

Oh, and in your bloodlust, you must have missed this:

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.

Here's hoping that your child is not in the wrong place at the wrong time someday - and if he is, I suppose he would have learned a lesson, eh?

[montag813]

One thing is for sure, there should be a definite drop in shoplifting in Dallas for the next several weeks.

[Xenalyte]

I'm curious about how one pronounces "Leshard."

[TMSuchman]

I must weigh in on this topic. I was once a mall security officer & armed security officer [though not at the mall]. The law states [usually in all states] that lethal force may only be used if in the mind of the shooter that to a "reasonable person" that harm & or injury or death may occur if that person does not intervene. So the question arises; did this kid do something as to pose as a threat to the security officer? That is what law enforcement has to figure out, & not take the word of the victims friends. Most states & major cities require security officers to undergo at least once a year training [classroom] and on the shooting range at least every 6 months.My former company required me to be on the range at least every 2-3 months. And you had better believe that the rules regarding lethal force is covered at nausea! So lets wait for the results of the investigation, before we jump to any ideas.

[gitmo]

A couple of years ago I discovered that my 11 year old had stolen something from a store. I took him for a ride, straight to the store. The security guard was waiting for us outside. They took him in the back and scared the heck out of him. I then paid the store for the merchandise, and asked them to put it back on their shelf. He had to work off the cost of the merchandise.

I'm glad they didn't shoot him.