NASHVILLE – A 24-year-old woman is in critical condition and required an emergency cesarean section after she was shot by a Nashville Walgreens employee during a confrontation over stolen merchandise.
The shooting took place just before 8 p.m. in the parking lot of the store in East Nashville, less than four miles northeast of downtown, according to the Metro Nashville Police Department.
Homicide detectives are investigating a self-defense claim of the store’s team leader who they say shot the suspected shoplifter.
The wounded woman was seven months pregnant when she was shot and taken to a hospital in a private vehicle.
An emergency C-Section was performed, police said. The baby, who was not injured by the gunfire, was also in critical condition at the hospital.
On Friday, Nashville police spokesman Don Aaron told USA TODAY detectives have not yet been able to interview the woman due to her medical condition, but said she was expected to recover and her child was ‘doing OK’.
What we know so far
The incident began when a Walgreens employee told their 21-year-old team leader that two women were stealing items from the store, police said.
The team leader told police he saw the pair placing items into a store cart and into a large over-the-shoulder bag. He said he then began recording the suspects with his cell phone and followed them outside after they left the store without paying for the items.
As the pair began placing items into the trunk of their car, police said the team leader made his way to the rear side of the vehicle. At that point, he said, one of the suspected shoplifters pulled a can of mace and began spraying it at him.
“(The employee) said he then pulled his semi-automatic pistol and began shooting, saying he was in fear and didn’t know if they were armed,” police wrote in press release.
After the suspects fled in the car, police said, the employee returned the store and dialed 911.
Dropped at a hospital
The second suspected shoplifter dropped off the pregnant suspect at the hospital and drove away, police said. She was later taken by ambulance to Vanderbilt Medical Center.
Back at Walgreens, responding officers seized the employee’s gun and cell phone.
At the completion of the investigation, police detectives will provide evidence to prosecutors who will determine whether the Walgreens employee is criminally charged.
Natalie Neysa Alund covers breaking and trending news for USA TODAY. Reach her at nalund@usatoday.com and follow her on Twitter @nataliealund.
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