A routine shoplifting call inside an Ohio Walmart turned into a life-or-death confrontation after a suspect allegedly tried to shoot a police officer at point-blank range.
Newly released body-camera footage captures the shocking moment when a handgun is pulled, the trigger is squeezed twice, and only a weapon malfunction prevents a fatal outcome.
The incident unfolded Thursday evening inside a Walmart in Canton, Ohio, after store employees detained two people suspected of stealing merchandise. Police say the pair, 21-year-old Shane Newman and a woman identified as Katerina Jeffrey, were escorted to a store security room while officers investigated the theft.
At first, everything appeared calm.
Bodycam footage from the responding officer, which had been placed on a table, shows a Walmart employee handing the officer a pen and paper while Newman and Jeffrey sit quietly on a bench. The officer begins questioning Newman and conducting a search, asking if he has anything on him.
Newman tells the officer he only has a cellphone. He then voluntarily hands over a small container that investigators later said contained illegal drugs. As the conversation continues, Jeffrey asks nervously, “Are we going to jail?”
“Not unless something crazy happens,” the officer replies.
Moments later, something did.
Without warning, Newman abruptly turns toward the officer, pulls out a handgun, and aims it directly at the officer’s head. In the video, a loud clicking sound can be heard as Newman appears to pull the trigger. The gun does not fire.
As Jeffrey screams, “No, no, no!” a Walmart security employee lunges forward, grabbing Newman in an effort to stop him. Despite the struggle, Newman raises the gun again and attempts to fire a second time. Another click echoes through the room.
The weapon still does not discharge.
The security worker manages to knock the gun out of Newman’s hands just as the officer draws his own weapon and shouts for everyone to get back. Fearing he could accidentally hit the employee during the struggle, the officer holds fire and instead moves in to physically subdue the suspect.
Newman is pinned to the floor until additional officers arrive. Both suspects are taken into custody without any shots being fired.
In the bodycam footage recorded after the arrest, the officer can be heard telling responding officers that Newman “pulled the gun out, pointed it at my head, and pulled the trigger.” Police say the firearm malfunctioned, preventing what could have been a deadly shooting.
The officer also acknowledges that he missed the gun during the initial search. Investigators later determined the weapon had been concealed inside Newman’s shoulder bag. According to police, the officer had only just been informed seconds before the attack that Newman had an active arrest warrant and was considered “armed and dangerous.”
Newman now faces serious charges, including attempted murder and felonious assault on a police officer, according to court records. Jeffrey has been charged with complicity to commit robbery and having weapons under disability for allegedly possessing ammunition.
Authorities credited the quick actions of the Walmart security employee and the officer’s restraint with preventing a tragedy.
The Canton Police Department said the incident underscores how rapidly routine calls can escalate and highlighted the importance of officer training and public safety awareness. The bodycam video, which has since circulated widely online, has drawn national attention for its chilling reminder of how close the encounter came to ending in fatal violence.
No officers, employees, or customers were injured during the incident.
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