A man died at a Georgia Walmart died today after being tackled and detained by two store employees and a contract security officer. The dead man was apprehended after the alleged theft of two DVD players. Most retail chain stores have strict policies against touching alleged thieves, and Walmart is no different.
Reaction to the death has been decidedly mixed. Put these folks in the “robbing has consequences” camp:
All avoidable by not shoplifting. RT @gracelshttp://t.co/tnEEWc3g Walmart employees tackle shoplifter. Shoplifter dies.
— SΞ4N VΞNKM4N (@MrFoPow) November 25, 2012
"Alleged shoplifter dies after being subdued by Walmart workers" Tough shit. How about not stealing? http://t.co/IIxTMO0K
— Fish_Kungfu (@Fish_Kungfu) November 25, 2012
More seemed to agree with a Walmart spokesman who opined that “No amount of merchandise is worth someone’s life.”
Way 2 go overzealous wannabee cop! / Alleged shoplifter dies after being subdued by Walmart workers http://t.co/z40zEmvx via @sharethis
— Chocl8t (@IAmChocl8t) November 25, 2012
Preventable Death… "@Gawker: Alleged Black Friday Shoplifter Dies After Being Tackled by Walmart Employees http://t.co/9QmAUyeF"
— 0U81B4 (@Cajun_Manor) November 25, 2012
https://twitter.com/cpstylin/statuses/272834434343006208
The reportage makes no mention of politics, but that didn’t stop some observers from imposing theirs onto the storyline:
https://twitter.com/Baretyes/statuses/272834678753488897
WELL-TRAINED WAL-MART AUTONS REALIZE HUMAN LIFE HAS NO INHERENT VALUE, BEAT SHOPLIFTER TO DEATH FOR BLACK FRIDAY: http://t.co/LDmJnSHr
— KALED AT HOME (@RepublicanDalek) November 25, 2012
https://twitter.com/Anonymous_420/status/272850576662994944
You know what they say about what happens when you assume? Repeat. Often.
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