Inside a loss prevention office, an officer was questioning two suspects when the situation exploded in seconds.
According to police, 21-year-old Shane Newman suddenly pulled out a handgun and attempted to shoot the officer at point-blank range.
The trigger was pulled.
The gun did not fire.
In that split second, everything could have ended — but it didn’t.
A Walmart asset protection employee immediately jumped on Newman, preventing him from trying again. The officer later stated he chose not to return fire because he feared hitting the employee in the confined space.
What police uncovered next raised even more alarm.
Investigators recovered approximately 50 blue pills believed to be “Molly” on Newman at the time of arrest. Authorities also confirmed Newman was legally prohibited from possessing a firearm due to a prior felony conviction.
Newman now faces a staggering list of charges, including:
Attempted murder
Felonious assault on a police officer
Robbery
Drug possession
Having a weapon under disability
He was issued a $1 million bond.
The second suspect, 23-year-old Katerina Jeffrey, was charged with complicity to commit robbery and given a $500,000 bond.
Law enforcement officials say this incident highlights how fast retail theft encounters can escalate into life-or-death situations.
One malfunction. One brave employee. One decision not to fire.
And a tragedy that narrowly didn’t happen.