Poinciana, Florida – A Walmart shooting with an off-duty deputy and shoplifting suspect has left one dead at the Walmart at 904 Cypress Parkway in Poinciana, according to the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office.
Sheriff Christopher Blackmon said a Walmart loss prevention employee notified a deputy about three men who were allegedly concealing merchandise in their clothing. The deputy and the loss prevention employee attempted to meet the men near the front of the store, the sheriff said.
According to the sheriff, one of the men ran and had a gun in his hand while moving through the store. The deputy fired, and the suspect was shot. The suspect was later confirmed dead, authorities said.
Investigators said the deputy acted out of concern for customers inside the store as the suspect ran through the Walmart with a gun in his hand. Sheriff Blackmon said he would not say whether the suspect pointed the gun at the deputy.
Officials have not released the suspect’s identity, and they have not provided details such as the type of firearm, how many shots were fired, or whether any customers were injured. Those facts were not confirmed in the initial public briefings.
Authorities said the other two suspects left the store and remained at large as of early Friday. Sheriff Blackmon said investigators have surveillance video of the two suspects and that a sheriff’s office helicopter was used during the search of the area.
The sheriff’s office asked anyone with information to contact Crimeline, and a reward of up to $5,000 was being offered for information leading to an arrest, according to reporting that cited investigators and the sheriff.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is expected to investigate the officer-involved shooting, authorities said. Sheriff Blackmon also said the deputy involved was doing well and had been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation.
Investigators also noted that three armed bystanders offered to assist, including a firefighter, a police officer, and a civilian, according to reporting that cited investigators at the scene.
Field Lessons are offered strictly as general, industry-standard reminders drawn from common safety practices and typical policy considerations. They are not based on any inside knowledge of this specific incident, do not presume what actions were taken, and should not be interpreted as commentary on the decisions made at the scene.
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Treat retail loss prevention calls as unpredictable, especially at exits and front vestibules where crowds compress, and angles are limited.
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Prioritize bystander safety when a weapon is present, move people to cover, establish a clear backstop, and avoid shooting into unknown lanes.
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Any officer working off-duty details needs a legal defense plan that covers off-duty work. My preference is Right To Bear.
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Shoplifting calls can be deceiving. Many are considered minor crimes, but suspects can be violent. Do not let your guard down and have a good understanding of the pre-incident cues that signal weapon possession. Concealed hands, walking/running with one arm tight to the body, fleeing, and target glancing are the sentinel cues discovered in our research.
- The first priority when encountering a shoplifting suspect is to handcuff them. Don’t ask questions. Don’t debate and don’t argue. Place the handcuffs on the suspect and then inquire, investigate, etc. If that is against store policy, don’t work there.
- Finally, be careful at any Walmart!
Dr. Travis Yates has pioneered a behavioral risk framework to help officers and leaders identify, assess, and articulate risk in rapidly evolving, uncertain situations. Find out more about the FOCUS Behavioral Risk Framework.
