A Walgreens worker in San Francisco is allegedly stabbed a shoplifter with his eyes during a physical altercation early Wednesday morning.
The employee – identified as 45-year-old gunhon by San Francisco police – was booked at the San Francisco County Jail for assault with a deadly weapon. KTVU-TV reported. Hong remained behind the bar Thursday afternoon without bonds.
“The employee needs to get praise and salary increases!”
Larry Whitlock, 30, was cited for a battery and minor theft and taken to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, the station said.
Police said KTVU Whitlock left Walgreens at 498 Castro Way at around 4:15am without paying for the item.
Surveillance video from across the street shows employees and security guards chasing Whitlock outside, and Hong and Whitlock begin their argument before trading punches, the station said.
Hong then returns to the store and Whitlock walks around the streets, Ktvu said. A few minutes later, Hon returned outside and again argued with Whitlock, the station noted.
Once again Hong returns to the store and KTVU says he will soon move down the street towards Whitlock.
The video shows Hon and Whitlock squares again on the street. Hong dodged the punch from the Whitlock and added that Hong swings with the Whitlock.
So Whitlock fell into the street with his face, the station said, adding that Hon kicked out with Whitlock and was back inside the store.
Police told KTVU that officers patrolling the area were “flagged about stabbing” around 4:35am.
You can view video reports here About the incident; Includes surveillance video of a physical altercation.
If convicted of assault with a deadly weapon, Hong will face up to four years in prison, a fine of up to $10,000, or both, adding that Whitlock's batteries and small theft fees will be fined up to six months each, with fines of up to $2,000 and $1,000 respectively.
How do people react?
Many commenters under the KTVU story Yahoo News It was reissued and praised the employees.
- “The employee needs to get praise and salary increases!” wrote one commenter.
- “We would like to thank the Walgreens employees for taking action against the thieves,” another user said.
- “It's fine,” another commenter pointed out. “Shoplifting deserves it.”
- “Hong should win a gold medal from the president in order to support the law,” another user said. “City and what [police] I couldn't do it. Bravo Hon. You are my hero. ”
- “Justice served. Better than the court. We should set up a gofundme for him as a reward,” another commenter wrote.
Something else?
In fact, retail theft in Walgreens stores and other businesses has been a problem in San Francisco for years.
In fact, on Easter Sunday, 2024, a group of marauders were captured on video and filmed anything they were happy about from the city's Walgreens. No resistance was provided.
Additionally, the producer of the local TV news station KPIX recorded the popular shoplifting on his cell phone while he was out with his girlfriend. KPIX-TV reported.
“It was basically an ambush,” the producer, who didn't want to name it, told the station about afternoon looting inside the store on 9th Avenue and Market Street. “It took me about three seconds to pull out the phone…and they didn't mind at all.”
Details from KPIX:
Walgreens is among the large retailers who have since 2019 that have closed at least 17 stores in San Francisco, and have announced plans to close stores in the city or close since the start of the pandemic. The final closure took place in the city's financial district in February 2023. Walgreens said the closure was “due to a significant drop in pedestrians in the financial district since the start of the pandemic.”
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