Chilling body camera video released by the Canton Police Department captures the terrifying moment a routine shoplifting call turned into a life-or-death struggle, as 21-year-old suspect Shane Newman suddenly drew a handgun and attempted to execute a police officer inside a Walmart loss prevention office. In a stroke of divine intervention – as described by local authorities – the gun malfunctioned when Newman pulled the trigger at point-blank range, giving a quick-thinking Walmart asset protection employee precious seconds to lunge forward and disarm the would-be killer.

The incident unfolded on Thursday afternoon, December 18, 2025, at the Walmart Supercenter on Atlantic Boulevard NE in Canton, Ohio – a bustling retail hub in Stark County that, like many American stores, has seen a surge in shoplifting amid broader concerns over retail crime. What started as a minor theft allegation quickly escalated into charges of attempted murder, highlighting the growing dangers faced by law enforcement and retail workers in everyday encounters.

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Canton police responded around 1:45 p.m. to reports of two suspects – Newman and his 23-year-old accomplice, Katerina Jeffrey – attempting to leave the store with unpaid merchandise. Store security detained the pair and escorted them to the loss prevention office, a small backroom equipped with surveillance cameras and a table-mounted body cam that would later document the harrowing sequence of events.

The footage begins calmly. The unnamed responding officer, a seasoned member of the Canton PD, questions the suspects while they sit on a couch. Newman voluntarily hands over suspected narcotics – later identified as around 50 blue Molly pills (ecstasy) – and insists he only has a cellphone on him. Jeffrey nervously asks if they’re going to jail, to which the officer replies reassuringly, “Not unless something crazy happens.” Moments of casual conversation follow, with Newman even blaming Jeffrey for the theft, saying, “I told her not to steal,” while a store employee counters that he participated too.

Then, without warning, the atmosphere shatters. After several minutes of tense silence, Newman shifts on the couch, reaches into his backpack, and pulls out a loaded handgun. He turns, aims directly at the officer’s head from mere feet away, racks the slide, and pulls the trigger multiple times. The gun clicks but fails to fire – a malfunction that police and witnesses attribute to mechanical failure or possibly a round not chambered properly.

Jeffrey’s panicked screams of “No, no, no!” fill the room as the heroic Walmart asset protection associate – praised by authorities for extraordinary bravery – lunges across the space, grabbing Newman’s arm and wrestling the weapon away. The officer, drawing his own service pistol, hesitates to fire out of fear of hitting the intervening employee. Instead, he joins the fray, tackling Newman to the ground with assistance from other store workers. Punches are thrown, knees applied, and Newman is finally subdued and handcuffed. No shots are fired, and remarkably, no one is injured.

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In a debrief captured on video, the shaken officer tells supervisors: “He pulls the gun out, points it at my head and pulls the trigger. It doesn’t go off.” He admits missing the firearm during his initial pat-down and explains why he held fire during the struggle. Police later discovered Newman had an active warrant and was flagged as “armed and dangerous,” adding layers of regret over the overlooked threat.

Newman, from nearby Plain Township, now faces a litany of serious charges: attempted murder, felonious assault on a peace officer, robbery, aggravated possession of drugs, and carrying a weapon under disability due to prior criminal history. At his arraignment in Canton Municipal Court on Friday, December 19, Judge Mary A. Falvey set his bond at a staggering $1 million, ordering no contact with the officer or Walmart. Jeffrey faces complicity to commit robbery and weapons under disability for possessing two 9mm rounds. Her bond was set at $500,000 with similar restrictions.

Canton Police Chief John Gabbard released a powerful statement on Friday, calling the episode “a reminder of the ever-present threat of violence against police officers and the gracious provision of God’s protection.” He thanked those who pray for the department and community, framing the malfunction as nothing short of miraculous. “Thank you to all of you who regularly pray with me for our officers and our community,” Gabbard said.

Walmart issued its own praise for the employees involved: “The safety and security of our customers and associates is always a top priority. We’re proud of the brave action our asset protection associate took to maintain the safety of everyone in our store.” The company vowed to cooperate fully with the ongoing investigation.

This near-tragedy comes amid a national conversation about rising retail theft and the risks to those who confront it. Organized shoplifting rings have plagued stores like Walmart, costing billions annually and leading to heightened security measures. In many jurisdictions, loss prevention teams are trained to observe and report rather than physically intervene, but situations like this underscore the split-second dangers when suspects are armed.

Experts note that concealed weapons among petty criminals are increasingly common, fueled by lax enforcement in some areas and broader societal issues like drug addiction – evident here with Newman’s possession of ecstasy pills. Prosecutors highlighted Newman’s history of probation violations and court no-shows, painting a picture of a repeat offender escalating to extreme violence.

The body cam footage, widely viewed online and on national news outlets, has sparked intense public reaction. Viewers express shock at how quickly a misdemeanor theft spiraled into attempted murder, with many hailing the Walmart employee as a true hero. “That associate saved a life – maybe multiple,” one commenter noted. Others point to the incident as evidence of why police officers deserve unwavering support in an era of growing anti-law enforcement sentiment.

Broader implications ripple through law enforcement circles. Departments nationwide train for such ambushes, but the video serves as a stark training tool, illustrating de-escalation challenges and the fine line between restraint and self-defense. The officer’s decision not to shoot – prioritizing the employee’s safety – has been lauded as professional under extreme pressure.

As Christmas approaches, this incident reminds Americans of the thin blue line protecting everyday life. In Canton, a community known for its working-class resilience and home to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, residents are grateful for the outcome but sobered by how close tragedy came.

Investigators continue to probe Newman’s background, the gun’s origin (believed loaded but jammed), and any ties to larger criminal activity. Tips are encouraged via Canton PD lines.

What began as stolen goods ended in a miracle of survival – thanks to a faulty firearm, unflinching courage, and perhaps a higher power watching over. The officer returned home safely to his family, the Walmart team to theirs, but the video endures as a visceral warning: Danger lurks in the most mundane calls, and heroism emerges when least expected.