CANTON ‒ A suspected shoplifter being held at Walmart in Ohio calmly pulled out a handgun, pointed it at a police officer and pulled the trigger, but the gun didn't fire and he was wrestled to the ground, police body camera video shows.
Shane C.L. Newman, 21, of Plain Township is charged with attempted murder and other offenses. He is being held at the Stark County Jail on $1 million bond.
He and Katerina D. Jeffrey, 23, of Canton were stopped on the afternoon of Dec. 18 and accused of shoplifting before being taken into a processing room at the store located at 3200 Atlantic Blvd. NE.
The dramatic bodycam video shows Newman and Jeffrey sitting on a couch for several minutes before he turns and reaches into his clothing and pulls out the weapon.
A Walmart loss prevention specialist grabs Newman and then the officer jumps in and Newman is wrestled to the ground. Jeffrey is shown yelling, "No, no, no."
The incident happened about five minutes after the officer patted down Newman, and asked him if he had anything that was going to poke or stab him.
A police news release didn't identify the officer.
"This incident is a reminder of the ever-present threat of violence against police officers and the gracious provision of God's protection," Police Chief John Gabbard said in a prepared statement. "Thank you to all of you who regularly pray with me for our officers and our community."
Newman is not allowed to have a gun due to convictions in 2023 for aggravated drug possession and illegal conveyance of drugs of abuse onto grounds of a specified governmental facility, the Stark County Jail.
Police said Newman was in possession of a loaded gun and 50 blue pills, which Newman allegedly said were MDMA, a synthetic, psychoactive substance sometimes called Molly.
Newman is charged with attempted murder, felonious assault on a police officer, robbery, aggravated drug possession and having a weapon under disability.
Canton Municipal Judge Mary A. Falvey set his bond at $1 million at an arraignment Dec. 19. She ordered him to have no contact with the victim and to have no contact with Walmart.
The judge set a $500,000 bond for Jeffrey and ordered her to have no contact with Walmart. Jeffrey is charged with complicity to commit robbery.
Canton City Prosecutor Kristina Lockwoodsaid Newman has a history of failure to appear in court and is on probation. She said Jeffrey had ammunition at the time of the offense and has past convictions for robbery and escape.
The police complaint against Jeffrey says she participated in a theft while she knew Newman had a gun.
'A very sad day.'Canton police officer killed in traffic crash on way to work
Lockwood said after the arraignment that she had reviewed the evidence and watched the officer's bodycam video.
"It was incredibly terrifying for this officer and it just highlights how difficult the police officers have it and how terrifying it is to be a police officer today," she said, adding that if there had been a bullet in the chamber of the suspect's gun, the officer wouldn't be here.
A Walmart representative said the company would continue to work with police as they investigate.
"The safety and security of our customers and associates is always a top priority. We're proud of the brave action our asset protection associate took to maintain the safety of everyone in our store," Jessie Carpenter, Walmart asset protection operations coach, said in a prepared statement.
Both defendants' cases are scheduled for status conferences in Municipal Court on Dec. 23. Both were represented in court Dec. 19 by public defender Kylie Thomas, who did not make any requests regarding the bonds.
Anyone with any information regarding this case is asked to contact the Canton Police Communications Center at 330-649-5800 or the Canton Police Detective Bureau at 330-489-3144. Anonymous tips can also be sent to Tip411 or the Stark County Crime Stoppers. Sign up for Tip411 at www.cantonohio.gov/police.
This article originally appeared on The Repository:Shane Newman of Ohio accused of trying to shoot Canton police officer
