Suspected jewelry thief fatally shot by security officer at Fort Worth shopping center, police say
A suspected smash-and-grab theft at a Fort Worth shopping center turned deadly when an armed security officer shot a man who was breaking the glass at a jewelry kiosk, police said.
Officers responded shortly after 8:30 p.m. to the 4200 block of South Freeway near Seminary Drive, where La Gran Plaza is located, according to Fort Worth police.
The man was seen using an object to break the glass at a jewelry kiosk inside the shopping center, police spokesperson Buddy Calzada said.
An armed security officer nearby opened fire, striking the man at least once, Calzada said. The wounded man fled across the parking lot before collapsing.
Shoppers, witnesses shaken
Responding officers found the man and began lifesaving measures, including CPR, according to Calzada.
Fort Worth Fire Department emergency medical personnel arrived and pronounced the man dead at the scene, police said.
Wednesday, witnesses told CBS News Texas that the shooting happened near the entrance of the shopping center, on the south side. They said they heard four to five gunshots and saw the suspect running from the kiosk before they heard gunfire. Shopping center employees said the security guard worked for a private company hired by the jewelry business, not the plaza; however, CBS News Texas is still working to confirm that.
Video captured on Wednesday shows glass boarded up near the entrance, where witnesses said the shooting happened.
Next-day shoppers were left a little shaken.
"It's definitely really scary," said Jack Woods. "But we obviously want Fort Worth to be safe."
Criminologist Alex Del Carmen said Texas law can allow the use of deadly force in certain circumstances to protect property.
"What I've read so far, where the individual had already trespassed, the individual not only showed intent, but was actually removing property at the time illegally, that the respondent, in this case, the security guard that was hired by the company to protect that property, use lethal force, and that it is justified under the criminal statute in the state of Texas," Del Carmen said. "It's very unlikely, in my view, that this is going to be criminally prosecuted, because, in fact, in Texas, we're kind of unique in that sense, that as a state, we have this castle law, you know, principle that allows for individuals to defend property and people within that area."
Some shoppers said they understand the security guard's response.
"Protecting property, self-defense, I mean the guy came in here, you don't know if he had a gun a weapon or something, he could hurt somebody," said Thomas Johnson. "So, I think it's kind of on him for making that decision for himself."
CBS News Texas reached out to representatives at the plaza, but they said they had no comment.
