Armed shoplifter barricades himself inside fire vehicle outside South Euclid Walmart, police say

SOUTH EUCLID, Ohio (WOIO) - Multiple police officers and the E.D.G.E SWAT Team were called to the Walmart in the 1800 block of Warrensville Center Road Friday morning after an armed man threatened a Walmart Loss Prevention Agent, said South Euclid Police Chief Joe Mays.

This happened around 10:45 a.m.

According to Chief Mays, the shoplifter was armed with a knife.

After threatening the worker, the shoplifter ran outside the store and entered a Shaker Heights Fire SUV, which was parked outside.

Chief Mays said the shoplifter refused to leave the vehicle and told officers “just kill me.”

Officers deployed Pepperball rounds into the SUV and the man opened the doors, said Chief Mays.

An officer then deployed one less-lethal round which struck the man in his left hip, said Chief Mays.

After he was struck, the man exited the vehicle and surrendered. Chief Mays said he was transported to a local hospital as a precaution.

Chief Mays added a knife was recovered in the SUV.

While the stand-off was ongoing, Walmart activated their threat policy procedure and workers and shoppers were taken to a safe place inside the building.

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