Video shows shoplifting suspect in Ohio pulls out gun, attempts to shoot officer

Lead

Video recorded at a Canton, Ohio Walmart shows 21-year-old Shane Newman producing a handgun and attempting to shoot a police officer during a Thursday afternoon arrest; the weapon failed to fire and no injuries were reported. The two people detained at the store were identified as Newman and 23-year-old Katerina Jeffrey, who was also taken into custody on suspicion of shoplifting. Police say the confrontation unfolded inside the store’s loss prevention office while officers and staff were processing the suspects. Local authorities have charged Newman with attempted murder and related counts; Jeffrey faces a robbery charge.

Key Takeaways

• Incident recorded at a Walmart in Canton, Ohio on Thursday afternoon; report published Dec. 21, 2025.
• 21-year-old Shane Newman allegedly produced a handgun during processing and tried to fire at an officer; police say the weapon did not discharge.
• Newman faces multiple charges, including attempted murder and assaulting a peace officer; no injuries were reported.
• 23-year-old Katerina Jeffrey was arrested on suspicion of shoplifting and is now charged with robbery.
• A Walmart loss prevention employee and the officer physically subdued Newman, causing the gun to be dropped.
• Police released a brief statement and video of the encounter; the footage shows the moments before and during the weapon’s appearance.

Background

Retail theft and in-store confrontations have increasingly drawn law-enforcement and public attention across the United States, prompting retailers to tighten loss-prevention measures. Many stores, including large national chains, hold suspected shoplifters in a loss prevention office while awaiting police; these interactions can become volatile when weapons or sudden resistance are involved. Law-enforcement agencies generally train officers on search, frisk and de-escalation techniques for these routine detentions, but video evidence in recent years has frequently shaped public perception and criminal prosecutions.

Canton police responded to the Walmart after store staff contacted them about alleged shoplifting. The suspects were escorted to the loss prevention office where standard processing — including a pat-down — was carried out. According to the released footage and police summary, what began as a relatively contained detention escalated within minutes when Newman drew a handgun.

Main Event

Police and store loss-prevention personnel had detained Newman and Jeffrey in a back office. Body-camera or store video shows officers conducting a pat-down of Newman; he denied carrying anything that could stab or poke. Minutes later, Newman produced a handgun while still in the room being used to process the suspects.

Authorities say Newman attempted to fire the weapon at an officer but the firearm did not fire. At that point, the officer and a Walmart loss prevention employee moved on Newman, wrestled him to the ground and secured the weapon. The gun was dropped during the struggle; there are no reports of any wounds to the officer, store staff or the two suspects.

Following the scuffle, both individuals were taken into custody. Police later charged Newman with multiple counts, among them attempted murder and assaulting a peace officer. Jeffrey’s charges were upgraded to robbery, per the police account provided to media.

Analysis & Implications

The incident highlights two intersecting concerns for law enforcement and retailers: the prevalence of shoplifting incidents that require police intervention and the acute danger posed when firearms enter otherwise routine detentions. Even when a firearm does not discharge, the attempted use of a weapon elevates charges and increases the likelihood of aggressive responses from officers and store personnel, complicating liability and investigative work.

Video evidence, whether from store cameras or officer body-worn devices, will likely play a central role in the criminal case and in public debate. Clear footage can accelerate charging decisions and influence prosecutorial strategy; it can also shape administrative reviews of both police actions and retailer procedures. In this case, the released footage appears to show the sequence that police described, which supports the attempted-murder allegation against Newman.

There are policy and training implications for retailers and police. Stores may reassess how they secure suspected shoplifters and how quickly they involve officers, weighing staff safety against the risks of detaining individuals in confined spaces. Police departments may review pat-down and control tactics and reinforce training on firearm recognition and rapid disarming in close quarters.

Comparison & Data

The table summarizes the two individuals named by police and the contrast between the initial suspicion (shoplifting) and the subsequent charges after the in-office confrontation. Video and witness accounts typically determine whether prosecutors pursue elevated charges such as attempted murder when a firearm is presented but not fired.

Reactions & Quotes

“Are we going to jail?”

Katerina Jeffrey (video)

The brief exchange captured on video underscores how the incident began as a typical custodial question during processing. Jeffrey’s question precedes the escalation and provides context for what witnesses heard moments before Newman produced the firearm.

“Not unless something crazy happens,”

Officer on scene (video)

The officer’s response was audible on the recording and was followed by a pat-down of Newman. That interaction and the apparent sudden escalation are central to understanding the sequence of events captured on video.

“While processing the two suspects in the store’s loss prevention office, the male produced a handgun and attempted to shoot the officer, but the weapon did not fire,”

Canton Police Department (official statement quoted in KABC)

Police summarized the incident in a short statement to media confirming the attempted discharge and that the weapon failed to fire; that statement formed the basis for the charges announced against Newman.

Unconfirmed

• Whether the handgun was loaded at the time of the attempted discharge remains unconfirmed by public records; investigators have not released ballistic or forensics results.
• The motive behind Newman allegedly drawing the weapon has not been publicly established; police have not provided a stated reason for the escalation.
• The identity and statements of the Walmart loss prevention employee who subdued Newman have not been made public beyond what appears in the released footage.

Bottom Line

This case transformed a routine in-store theft detention into a potential homicide case when a suspect produced a handgun and attempted to fire at an officer; video evidence and immediate physical intervention by store staff and police prevented injuries. Prosecutors have charged 21-year-old Shane Newman with attempted murder and related offenses, while 23-year-old Katerina Jeffrey faces a robbery charge.

Observers should watch for charging documents, any body-camera or store-video releases, and the early court filings that will clarify investigators’ evidence, including whether the firearm was operable and what witnesses will testify. The incident also raises practical questions for retailers and police about how to handle detentions to minimize the risk when weapons appear.

Sources

• KABC/ABC7 Los Angeles — local TV news report summarizing police statement and published video evidence (media)