Suspected Walmart Shoplifter Shot To Death In Front Of Kids
Houston, TX | A suspected Walmart shoplifter was shot dead by an off-duty deputy in Texas last week, the second fatal incident involving a shoplifting allegation and the big box retailer in less than a month.
The suspected Walmart shoplifter was a 27-year-old mother of two, fatally shot by the off-duty sheriff’s deputy at a Houston Walmart. Police have identified the victim of the Walmart shoplifting shooting as Shelly Frey, and local news sources give the following account of the event’s leading up to the fracas that claimed her life:
“Harris County Sheriff’s deputies have said that victim Shelly Frey, Tisa Andrews and Yolanda Craig were stealing when they were confronted by Louis Campbell a 26-year veteran of the force who works as a security guard at the store … According to Campbell the women ran to their car and when he rushed to open the door, they accelerated away – at which point he fired the deadly shot into the car which hit Frey in the neck.”
Witnesses claim Frey and her friends had been stuffing items into their purses prior to the shooting, and that the three had attempted to cover up the theft by purchasing other items before they fled the store.
According to Harris County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Deputy Thomas Gilliland, the off-duty cop only shot the suspected Walmart shoplifter to death when he believed the driver intended on running him down in an attempt to abscond with the alleged stolen merchandise:
“She threw it in reverse and tried to run over the deputy … He confronted the suspects at exit of the store before they left. One female wouldn’t stop, struck the deputy with her purse, ran off … I think it knocked him off balance and, in fear of his life and being ran over, he discharged his weapon at that point.”
While police paint an unflattering picture of the Walmart shoplifting shooting, the family and friends of Frey recall a woman who worked hard to start a new life after Hurricane Katrina, and one who struggled to raise a 2-year-old suffering from Sickle Cell Anemia — decrying the officer who shot at a vehicle with two small kids inside.
In response to the Walmart shoplifting shooting, the retailer issued the following statement regarding loss prevention, force and the death of Shelly Frey:
“This is a tragic situation and we recognize this is a difficult time for all parties involved. We’re committed to working with law enforcement and providing any information we have as they determine the facts of the case. Because this is an active investigation, any specific details of the incident should come from law enforcement … We hire off duty officers to provide security to some of our stores. While we have policies in place for our associates to disengage from situations that might put them or others in harm’s way, off-duty officers working at a WM store are authorized to act in accordance with their department’s code of conduct.”
Frey’s mother Sharon Wilkerson told KHOU she wants answers in her daughter’s death:
“Why couldn’t you just shoot the tire, shoot the window? … Was it that serious? … How do I tell these children she’s not coming back?”
The officer responsible for the Walmart shoplifter shooting death is currently on administrative leave.
Tags : Shelly Frey, Shelly Frey walmart death, walmart shoplift, Walmart Shoplifter, walmart shoplifter death, walmart shoplifter killed, walmart shoplifter killed by cop, walmart shoplifter shot, walmart shoplifter shot houston, walmart shoplifting death, walmart shoplifting shooting
Posted: December 10, 2012
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Dec 10, 2012
Trigger happy cowboy cops on the loose. They blur the line all too often.
Dec 11, 2012
It did say suspected so what if she wasnt? Amerikkka
Dec 11, 2012
all she needed to do was not to steal and run from the officer. her and her cronies escalated the force. her buddies weremt too concerned about her because they went to stash the loot instead of taking her for medical treatment.
Dec 11, 2012
Even off duty "rent-a-cops" are TRIGGER HAPPY!
Dec 11, 2012
When you're breaking the law and endangering a cop while running away, bad stuff happens. This is why we tell our children, "Don't break the friggin' law."
Dec 11, 2012
She wasn't SHOPPING she was 'ashopalifting' does this mean the walmart prices are going to go up before christmas, to take care of this law suit. She was a good momma, a good daughter, she just wasn't a goodshoplifta.
Dec 11, 2012
All of you taking up for a cop shooting and killing a shop lifter need serious help. How much could she have possibly stolen? Walmart has insurance against this and prices are built in to take care of loss. Someone's life was less important than some trash from Walmart?
Dec 11, 2012
Amen brother. Who shoots at a car with kids in it anyway? Asshats.
Dec 12, 2012
the windows were so dark how could you tell who was in the car? Did the woman and the kids make a break for it? I don'[t get it, were the kids asleep in the car while the ladies shopped…lifted? Doesn't make sense,and one good reason for not having windows tinted so dark, I knowin Ct. they pull you over if they are dark on the front drivers and passenger area I don't know about the back windows, I assume the children were in the back seat. So sad…It's all fun and games till someone gets shot in the neck.
Dec 12, 2012
People want to talk about the cop shooting at a car with children in it, but what about the mother who took her children along on a mini crime spree?
Dec 12, 2012
man fuck yall dumb ass you don't give deaf sentence for stealing that security guard went to far so what if she would have got away with what ever she took it was not worth her life we all make mistake walmart don't give a fuck this man went crazy and shoot in a occupied dwelling he was shooting to kill and that shit wrong we might as well be like them other countries who execute people for stupid shit.why yall people on here trying to justify what he did yall just evil.
Dec 12, 2012
Moral to the story is stop fucking stealing…..and if anybody mad at me fuck you…
Dec 12, 2012
the security guard is a bitch!! he couldve found another solution.
Dec 12, 2012
Stories like this are the reason why I laugh when cops die on duty.
Jan 19, 2013
you're right. she totally deserved to die.
Feb 10, 2013
Another good reason to boycott walmart. This is a shameful episode. A woman with a sick child trying to feed her kids. Our social safety net is in tatters, and walmart gets multi million dollar subsidies to locate in our communities. Shame Shame Shame to anyone who believes in killing a SUSPECT!
Mar 22, 2013
We must start to value life more in this country. I do not condone what she did in any manner, but what is inside of Walmart that is worth anyone's life?
Mar 22, 2013
Danny,
No one confirmed that she was a shoplifter. Whatever happened to innocent until proven guilty?
Mar 24, 2013
Stealing is wrong, but murder is worse. The punishiment doesn't fit the crime.
Apr 4, 2013
Like her mom said he could have shot the tire….or….take down the license plate number…they had no weapons….that's murder!
Apr 4, 2013
This is a tragic story. Hopefully this discourages shop lifters because the truth is, you don't know how things will take place once your take the risk. He could have let the shop lifters go, instead of running to their car. He was OFF DUTY as a copy, and acting as security personnel. These are two different positions. The other thought is, why in the world would you take you and your girlfriends with you children LEFT IN THE CAR, to steal merchandise understanding that if you got caught you could go to jail? Someone could take the kids, they could wander off, or die! He could have handled it differently but it's more than about the products here. The whole orchestration of the thievery was off.
Apr 4, 2013
Shanell Singleton wow because this comment is a great answer to the tragic ending. Why do people call names? It's senseless.