Shoplifter Shot During Struggle for Private Police Officer’s Gun
WASHINGTON DC
An 18-year-old man suspected of shoplifting from a Southwest D.C. grocery store tussled with an officer and was shot, police said.
Miguel Smith, of Southeast D.C., tried to leave a Safeway with several grocery items he didn’t pay for, police said. According to police documents, the groceries were worth about $14.96.
A special police officer tried to stop Smith after he passed all the checkouts at the store’s location near the Waterfront-SEU Metro station, police said.
Smith and the officer then got into a fight. During the fight, police say Smith tried to grab the officer’s weapon. As Smith lifted the gun out of the holder, the private police officer grabbed his hands and a shot was fired, police said.
The bullet hit Smith’s leg, police said. He then fled down M Street Southwest, limping.
Police were called to the Safeway at about 6 a.m.
Smith was later found after police received a call that someone had been shot at the Rhode Island Avenue Metro station in Northeast. Police found Smith and decided he was the suspect from the Safeway incident.
He was taken to the hospital for treatment and arrested, police said.
Smith was charged with theft and aggravated assault on a police officer.
