February 19th, 2011

Wal-Mart Security Employees Fired for Disarming Store Gunman

by Norm Feuti

From the Deseret News:

The shoplifter smashed Gabriel Stewart up against a wall.

It didn’t take him long to realize that pressure against his lower back was from a loaded gun held by a desperate man who didn’t want to go to jail. The gunman had a firm grip on Stewart’s shoulder, telling him and three of his Walmart co-workers, “Don’t make me do this.”

“Absolutely time stopped,” Stewart told KSL. “I didn’t know what to do.”

Instantly, Shawn Ray and Justin Richins kicked into gear, spinning the gunman around. Lori Poulsen ripped the gun away and secured it. They all held on to the man until police arrived minutes later.

The four Layton Walmart employees felt it was mission accomplished. Police officers told them they had done everything right.

But a week later, all four were fired from their jobs. Walmart said their actions had  violated company policy and put their fellow workers and shoppers at risk.

You can read the rest of the story HERE.

It’s official, there is no level of corporate idiocy I can invent for the strip that is too ridiculous to come true in real life.