Washington man shoots man he mistakenly thought was shoplifting, police say
Shooting happened at Safeway in Gig Harbor
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}A 70-year-old Washington state man confronted and shot an innocent man who he mistakenly thought was shoplifting from a grocery store over the weekend, authorities said.
Officers responded around 11:20 p.m. to a reported shooting at a Safeway in the 4800 block of Point Fosdick Drive on Saturday, Gig Harbor police said.
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{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The 70-year-old man identified himself to officers as the shooter and immediately complied with police. A 9mm handgun was recovered from the suspect.
The shooting happened around 11:20 p.m. Saturday at a Safeway in Gig Harbor, Washington. (Google Earth)
The 40-year-old victim was found inside the store with an apparent gunshot wound to his neck. Police said he was conscious and alert.
Witnesses told officers that the 70-year-old confronted the victim as he was leaving the store with items.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"The suspect wrongly believed that the victim was stealing the merchandise and blocked the exit with his grocery cart and body," police said.
During the confrontation, police said a physical fight broke out between the two men and the suspect drew the handgun. The 70-year-old allegedly fired the gun at least twice, striking the victim once on the side of the neck. A second shot appeared to strike the glass door to the store.
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{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The victim was rushed to St. Joseph Hospital for treatment and later released.
The 70-year-old was booked into the Pierce County Jail on one count of first-degree assault.
Gig Harbor is a city located about 44 miles southwest of Seattle.