Caught on camera: Shoplifter tries to shoot police officer in Ohio, but gun jams

In a moment that made hearts skip a beat, a shoplifting suspect in Ohio narrowly failed to shoot a police officer at point-blank range inside a Walmart after his gun appeared to malfunction in a scary incident caught on bodycam.

The incident occurred on Thursday in Canton when officers responded to an alleged theft involving a 21-year-old Shane Newman and a woman, Katerina Jeffrey, according to Fox News. The pair had been detained and taken to the store’s security room.


The bodycam had been placed on a table and initially showed a calm scene. A Walmart employee handed the officer a pen and paper as the suspects sat on a bench. Moments later, Newman suddenly pulled out a gun and attempted to fire at the officer while the woman screamed, "No, no, no!" A clicking sound can be heard as the weapon fails to fire.

The Walmart worker immediately jumped on Newman to restrain him, but he raised the gun again. Another click was heard when the gun failed a second time. The employee managed to knock the weapon from Newman’s hands while the officer took his own firearm out and shouted, "Get back! Get back!"

The officer pinned Newman to the floor until backup arrived, and both suspects were taken into custody. In bodycam footage, the officer told Fox News that the alleged shoplifter "pulled the gun out, pointed it at my head and pulled the trigger," but the weapon did not fire.

The officer said that he had considered shooting Newman but feared hitting the Walmart employee as the worker struggled to disarm the suspect. He also admitted to missing the gun hidden in Newman’s shoulder bag during an initial body search. The officer had just been alerted earlier that Newman had an active warrant and was classified as "armed and dangerous."

Newman was charged with attempted murder and felonious assault on a police officer. Jeffrey faces charges of complicity to commit robbery and having weapons under disability.

Before the failed attempt to attack, the officer had asked Newman if he had anything on him. Newman handed over a small container from his pocket, which investigators said contained illegal drugs. Jeffrey asked, "Are we going to jail?" The officer replied, "Not unless something crazy happens."