JCPenney at Maryland mall evacuated after suspected armed shoplifter barricades himself in fitting room
Christopher Lawrence allegedly tried to steal watch from JCPenney at Westfield Wheaton Mall
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}A shoplifting suspect who police say was armed with a knife barricaded himself inside a fitting room at a JCPenney in Maryland on Wednesday, prompting authorities to evacuate the store during the four-hour standoff.
Officers responded around 10:30 a.m. to the Westfield Wheaton Mall after 37-year-old Christopher Lawrence allegedly tried to steal a watch from the department store, the Montgomery County Police Department said.
Lawrence barricaded himself inside a fitting room and reportedly threatened officers with the knife, according to police.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The department store was evacuated as emergency response teams and negotiators attempted to persuade Lawrence to leave the fitting room and turn himself over to police.
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A JCPenney store at the Westfield Wheaton Mall in Maryland was evacuated Wednesday after an armed man suspected of shoplifting barricaded himself inside a fitting room, authorities said. (Google Maps)
Around 2:30 p.m., a SWAT team deployed pepper balls into the fitting room and took Lawrence into custody. He was evaluated on scene and was not injured during the incident.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Lawrence, who has no known address, was taken to the police department’s Central Processing Unit. He is expected to be charged with first-degree assault.
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No officers or store employees were injured during the incident.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}JCPenney remained closed for the day.