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Bystander Not Charged In Shoplifter Shooting
Loucinda Carroll Accused Of Stealing Meat From Independence Grocery Store
INDEPENDENCE, Mo. -- The man who shot a suspected shoplifter in Independence won't face any charges, prosecutors said Wednesday.
Loucinda Carroll, 41, was arrested Saturday evening after a bystander shot her in the parking lot of an Independence grocery store.
Prosecutors said Carroll and a friend went to the Sunfresh store at 23rd Street and Sterling Avenue to steal meat. The manager saw it happening and followed them to a car in the parking lot, police said.
The manager tried writing down the license plate and yelled at them to stop and for someone to call police.
With the car turned on, police said Carroll lunged the vehicle forward, striking the manager on the legs, leaving her clinging to the hood of the car.
William Miller was in the parking lot and saw it happen. He used his truck to block an exit and pulled out his handgun, repeatedly telling the driver to stop and get out, police said.
Police said Miller feared for his life and for the manager, and he fired a shot into the driver-side window. It hit Carroll in the shoulder and neck.
Carroll's son, Michael Barajas, said it wasn't right.
"He didn't even know what was going on. He just jumped out assuming. What if it had been the lady on the hood that was in the wrong? He would have shot the wrong lady," Barajas told KMBC's Marcus Moore. "He's not a police officer--he should have never done that."
Barajas admitted that his mother "put herself in a bad position."
He said he's thankful she's going to survive the gunshot wound, and he said he wishes she hadn't done what she's accused of.
"My mom should not have been stealing. However, I think this guy is very wrong for shooting her. His life was not in danger," Barajas said.
Miller has a valid concealed carry license from the state of Utah, which Missouri honors. Miller didn't want to comment on the incident.
The store manager also didn't want to talk.
The incident remains under investigation.
Jackson County Prosecutor Jim Kanatzer said there won't be any charges filed against Miller.
"You are entitled to defend yourself or someone else if you think that your life is in danger or that you are in danger of serious physical injury," Kanatzer told KMBC's Jim Flink. "You have to reasonably believe that either you or another individual is in danger of losing their life. This particular individual had all the reason to believe that based upon the facts he was observing."
Kanatzer said the law allows for reasonable self-defense if anyone's life is in danger. However, he urges caution.
Carroll will face theft charges when she is discharged from the hospital.
Bystander Not Charged In Shoplifter Shooting
Loucinda Carroll Accused Of Stealing Meat From Independence Grocery Store
INDEPENDENCE, Mo. -- The man who shot a suspected shoplifter in Independence won't face any charges, prosecutors said Wednesday.
Loucinda Carroll, 41, was arrested Saturday evening after a bystander shot her in the parking lot of an Independence grocery store.
Prosecutors said Carroll and a friend went to the Sunfresh store at 23rd Street and Sterling Avenue to steal meat. The manager saw it happening and followed them to a car in the parking lot, police said.
The manager tried writing down the license plate and yelled at them to stop and for someone to call police.
With the car turned on, police said Carroll lunged the vehicle forward, striking the manager on the legs, leaving her clinging to the hood of the car.
William Miller was in the parking lot and saw it happen. He used his truck to block an exit and pulled out his handgun, repeatedly telling the driver to stop and get out, police said.
Police said Miller feared for his life and for the manager, and he fired a shot into the driver-side window. It hit Carroll in the shoulder and neck.
Carroll's son, Michael Barajas, said it wasn't right.
"He didn't even know what was going on. He just jumped out assuming. What if it had been the lady on the hood that was in the wrong? He would have shot the wrong lady," Barajas told KMBC's Marcus Moore. "He's not a police officer--he should have never done that."
Barajas admitted that his mother "put herself in a bad position."
He said he's thankful she's going to survive the gunshot wound, and he said he wishes she hadn't done what she's accused of.
"My mom should not have been stealing. However, I think this guy is very wrong for shooting her. His life was not in danger," Barajas said.
Miller has a valid concealed carry license from the state of Utah, which Missouri honors. Miller didn't want to comment on the incident.
The store manager also didn't want to talk.
The incident remains under investigation.
Jackson County Prosecutor Jim Kanatzer said there won't be any charges filed against Miller.
"You are entitled to defend yourself or someone else if you think that your life is in danger or that you are in danger of serious physical injury," Kanatzer told KMBC's Jim Flink. "You have to reasonably believe that either you or another individual is in danger of losing their life. This particular individual had all the reason to believe that based upon the facts he was observing."
Kanatzer said the law allows for reasonable self-defense if anyone's life is in danger. However, he urges caution.
Carroll will face theft charges when she is discharged from the hospital.