Gun Owner Fires at Walmart Shoplifter to 'Mark' Him for Police

[Hum]

ORANGE CITY, FL -- A man arrested for opening fire in a busy Walmart parking lot said he was trying to stop a shoplifter and is now defending his actions.

Orange City police arrested Jose Martinez, 35, after they said he unleashed at least five bullets in the parking lot of the Walmart on Veterans Memorial Parkway.

Martinez told Local 6, he was defending himself from a shoplifter who nearly ran him over and injured him.

"The guy put me in danger and other people," said Martinez as police hauled him off to jail Wednesday evening. "He tried to run me over."

But police said Martinez only was bumped by the shoplifter's getaway car because he was chasing after the car and even tried to open the door to the moving vehicle before he opened fire.

Eddie McKee, 42, was caught shoplifting groceries at the Walmart and took off when security confronted him, knocking down a woman, according to police.

Several other people chased after the alleged shoplifter, Eddie McKee, and another man was armed but he never drew his gun. McKee was arrested in DeLand shortly after.

Police said McKee then jumped in his car and took off, but bumped into another car in the parking lot, that's when police say bullets started flying.

"If the shoplifter was an aggressor towards him, then yes. If he wasn't, then no, he shouldn't have discharged his firearm," said Tasha Olkowski.

"I saw one black gentleman running from the parking lot, he dove in his car. And there were two older gentlemen chasing him down. One drew a gun, ripped open the guys car door and screamed, 'Freeze, freeze, don't move!' And then fired shots," said one 911 caller.

As the bullets hit the getaway car -- piercing the trunk and shattering the back window -- police said bullets also hit at least two other cars.

Martinez said to Local 6, he thought nobody else was in danger by his gunfire and he was surprised police arrested him. Martinez started opening fire because he said he wanted to mark the suspect's car as he fled from the scene. He has his concealed weapons permit but has been charged with two felonies, aggravated assault and shooting into an occupied vehicle.

After reviewing store security video, police said Martinez's story doesn't add up. They believe he was never in danger because the shoplifter was driving away from him and everyone else.

source

[Richteralan]

You are markin' it wrong.

Should've used a SOFLAM or MAV.

/s

[psionicinversion]

Reminds me of the south park episode where Jimbo and Ned takes stan and kyle into the woods for shooting and to get around the law of not killing someat unless there in danger they shout "Its coming straight at me" lol

[DirtyLarry Veteran]

Case of some idiot thinking he has the right or authority to be a vigilante when he clearly does not. He should have been arrested and should be prosecuted no doubt.

[Hum]

Can't see why people get this worked up over a shoplifter.

[Detection]

Shoot the tires if you have to shoot anything at all ? :/

Can't see why people get this worked up over a shoplifter.

Some people want to be the hero I think, personally its not my stuff, run forest

[COKid]

Are we sure it wasn't Wayne LaPierre doing the shooting?

[Richteralan]

Are we sure it wasn't Wayne LaPierre doing the shooting?

I would think it's Walmart's CEO doing the shooting, considering he just bitched about "Where are all the customers? And where's their money?"

[+Nik Louch Subscriber²]

Surely if it takes 5 bullets to "mark" someone, then 4 of those were stray? Stray bullets in a busy public place? Great!

[Hum]

I blame TV shows.

[Vykranth]

As the bullets hit the getaway car -- piercing the trunk and shattering the back window -- police said bullets also hit at least two other cars.

Martinez said to Local 6, he thought nobody else was in danger by his gunfire and he was surprised police arrested him. Martinez started opening fire because he said he wanted to mark the suspect's car as he fled from the scene. He has his concealed weapons permit but has been charged with two felonies, aggravated assault and shooting into an occupied vehicle.

What about the two other cars that were damaged? Does it not add up to the bill? Damaging private property, may be?

Should not the owners of thee damaged cars lodge a complain and sue him?

[ATLien_0]

Its all going to come down to whether the shoplifter was an aggressor to him or not. I work retail, and we are always told that if some one is shoplifting to never approach them, it ok to let them go not worth the human injury. Its the sad truth sometimes, but sometimes it just safer to let them go

[theyarecomingforyou]

It is the job of the police to catch the criminal, not vigilantes. It's one thing to tackle a fleeing criminal and restrain them - something allowed under the law - but it's another entirely to start shooting at them. He should be charged with attempted murder. You can't commit one crime to stop another - that's simply not on.

This is exactly why people shouldn't be allowed to carry guns.

[exotoxic]

"The guy put me in danger and other people," said Martinez...

police said bullets also hit at least two other cars...

Martinez said to Local 6, he thought nobody else was in danger by his gunfire

This was a LAW ABIDING CITIZEN not a CRIMINAL :rofl:

[ricodico]

John Kerry wasn't wrong. Go figure ;)

[Stoffel]

It just shows that the law abiding citizen can't be trusted with guns either

[shakey]

Our society is not mentally stable enough to have guns. You don't give a 3 year old a saw or knife... Same goes here. Until our society can show they actually value human life and aren't out to prove some point, we shouldn't be armed as such. Too many people just don't have the mentality needed to be able to use such a weapon properly.

[Solid Knight]

Don't discharge your weapon in a public space full of people. He could have accidentally shot other people.

[COKid]

It just shows that the law abiding citizen can't be trusted with guns either

Generalize often?

I am not a gun owner, but there are millions of law abiding citizens worldwide who do own guns. Upwards of 80 million just in the USA, actually.

[Richteralan]

Generalize often?

I am not a gun owner, but there are millions of law abiding citizens worldwide who do own guns. Upwards of 80 million just in the USA, actually.

Such generalization you often hear in the USA media toward other countries in the world.

So what's wrong about that? US generalize other countries, and other countries generalize US.

[argonite]

Such generalization you often hear in the USA media toward other countries in the world.

So what's wrong about that? US generalize other countries, and other countries generalize US.

And everyone is wrong together and nothing improves.

[Noir Angel]

This is why I don't trust gun owners. Interfering busybodies that think owning a gun gives them the right to poke their noses into matters that don't concern them. Let's just be thankful that this moron didn't kill anyone.

[leesmithg]

Case of some idiot thinking he has the right or authority to be a vigilante when he clearly does not. He should have been arrested and should be prosecuted no doubt.

Exactly.

If I am shopping in my local ASDA and someone is thieving, I don't care they're not thieving off me, the stores goods, the stores security should deal withy them.

It's the same in any situation, if you see someone thieving tell security then move one, don't be a hero.

[Arachno 1D]

Yea batman would never use a gun........he might destroy several buildings a few police cars and knock over several by standers in his escape though.

That guy needs his permit rescinding.

[Richteralan]

And everyone is wrong together and nothing improves.

That's part of my point.

When US generalizes people from other countries it's OK. But when people from other countries generalize US it's not OK.

Things go both ways in reality.