Officers arrested a San Francisco Walgreens employee who allegedly stabbed a shoplifter with a knife during a brawl over stolen goods early Wednesday morning.
Brutal security camera footage shows employees heading down the street following shoplifting. There, a trade between the two of them blew and clench their faces before the thief sinks to the ground.
The employee, identified by police as Gunhon, 45, appears to be aiming for a final kick to the victim before returning to the store.
Police confirmed that the suspect's shoplifter, Larry Whitlock, 30, was stabbed in the eye and Hong was arrested and reserved for the attack with a deadly weapon, Fox 2 reported.
Whitlock was taken to hospital where he was treated for a life-threatening injury, and police charged him with batteries and minor theft.
Amidst the shoplifting crisis in San Francisco and other California cities, the horrifying incident left helpless store employees and security guards to stop them as burglars were able to run them.
Until recently, shoplifting was only charged with misdemeanors if he stole an item that was less than $950.
However, in December, nearly 70% of voters passed Proposal 36. This is a new law that has increased the power of police officers to crack down on burglars and often felony shoplifting.
Some shoplifters are slow to receive messages. In December, a hilarious police recording revealed a pair of bewildered burglars lamenting “new laws” from behind the team.
But the suspect on Wednesday faces up to four years in prison if convicted – could lead to regretting the law in his hands.
