Worker knocked over by shoplifter: Murder charges may follow
June 28, 2010 by Fred HosierPosted in: Bizarre Accident of the Week, criminal charges, Falls, Fatality, In this week's e-newsletter, Latest News & Views
PDF Police are trying to determine whether to file murder charges against an accused shoplifter who knocked over a store clerk while allegedly trying to steal a TV.
Police say Bruce Florence was working in the outdoor garden center at a Wal-Mart near Ft. Worth, TX, when customer William Kennedy tried walking out with a 26-inch TV he hadn’t paid for.
When Florence stepped in front of Kennedy, telling him electronics weren’t allowed in the garden center, Kennedy allegedly pushed Florence to the ground. Police say Kennedy fled in an SUV with a driver waiting inside.
Doctors say Florence suffered a head injury — bleeding in the brain — as a result of the fall.
He died six days later in the hospital.
Kennedy has been jailed on charges of theft at several stores.
Police say he could be charged with murder if the medical examiner determines that Florence died from the head injuries he suffered in the incident.
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June 29th, 2010 at 9:31 am
Murder charges may follow ? Duh, huh, Florence suffered a head injury- bleeding of the brain as a result of the fall. There should be no question of a murder charge based on your published article.
June 29th, 2010 at 9:34 am
Good - people need to be held responsible for their actions - whether the outcome was expected or not. Many things in life are not do-overs. This is an example of that. Companies are held accountable for many things they do not actually have control over. In this case, the shoplifter is totally responsible for all of the negative outcomes of his actions.
June 29th, 2010 at 12:23 pm
I can see this thief’s lawyer claiming Mr. Florence should not have been blocking the perp’s exit or some other feeble defense to deflect responsibility from where it belongs. The guy commited a crime - stealing - and his actions caused the death of another individual. Murder. Guilty as charged!!
June 29th, 2010 at 1:38 pm
The person commited bodily harm while engaged in a felony. Murder 1. Book ‘em Dan-O
June 29th, 2010 at 7:37 pm
George, you miss Hawaii 50, huh? Good thing they are doing a remake. I absolutely agree that the crook should be charged with murder. He knocked the poor guy down, guy banged head, guy died. This seems very simple to me. I have always said that society doesn’t make people responsible for their actions, good or bad. It’s time to stop that behavior.
June 30th, 2010 at 12:11 pm
Murder charges??? You betcha! All the shoplifter had to do was say ” ok”, TURN AROUND and walk back inside to the store area. Then the employee would not have been shoved/knocked to the ground and died from the incident. But this shoplifter MADE a conscious decision to move forward, hoping to move the employee out of his way so yes, he should be charged with murder!
July 6th, 2010 at 2:20 pm
I’m sorry to hear about this, I once tackled a shoplifter while working for a grocery store. The thief chipped a tooth and eventually won a $15,000.00 lawsuit. At least this guy did his crime in Texas where they have an express lane for lethal injections.
July 23rd, 2010 at 6:33 pm
The clerk should never have gotten in the way of the thief, for heaven’s sake, can’t a guy steal something without honest “good-samaritan” clerks intervening anymore??