Walgreens worker accused of stabbing shoplifter within the eye | EUROtoday

A Walgreens worker is behind bars on assault with a lethal weapon expenses in San Francisco after he was accused of stabbing a would-be shoplifter within the eye.

In the early hours of Wednesday, police in San Francisco say that Larry Whitlock, 30, left the pharmacy alongside Castro Way with out paying for his items. Surveillance video reveals a employee named Guang Hong, 45, chasing him onto the road. The two trade phrases throughout a standoff.

Hong goes again into the shop whereas Whitlock stays outdoors. Minutes later, Hong returns, and the pair trade phrases once more. Whitlock lunges at Hong, and the staffer throws his arms on the alleged thief, inflicting him to fall to the bottom, holding his face. Hong seems to kick Whitlock earlier than going again inside the shop. In the video, Hong may be seen carrying a blue Walgreens smock.

Whitlock stays within the space, and Hong as soon as once more comes outdoors. The two stroll out of the body. It was round 20 minutes after the unique altercation when police had been referred to as to the scene after receiving a report a few stabbing. That explicit retailer is open 24 hours, the one certainly one of its variety within the metropolis.

The safety footage was first broadcast by FriscoLive415.

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Hong was taken into custody, Whitlock was dropped at a close-by hospital earlier than being charged with battery and petty theft. His accidents have been described as ‘non-life threatening.’

The San Francisco Fire Department confirmed that Whitlock was stabbed within the eye. ABC San Francisco studies that the weapon used was a set of keys.

Terry Asten Bennet, the president of the Castro Merchants Association and operator of Cliff’s Variety retailer, instructed NBC San Francisco that whereas she’s sympathetic to Hong, she believes he ought to by no means have adopted Whitlock outdoors. Bennet mentioned that her employees are additionally topic to threats from the native homeless group.

Another resident, Chris Murray, who typically retailers within the retailer, instructed CBS San Francisco after seeing the video: “You know, I feel really bad after seeing what I just saw… I’m pretty surprised to see him do something like that. But like I said, these people deal with this every single night…. You go in there and they don’t even try and hide it. They go in with their bags open and just start scooping the aisle into the bag.”

In 2023, a safety guard, Michael Earl-Wayne Anthony, was arrested for capturing useless a would-be shoplifter named Banko Brown at a Market Street Walgreens within the metropolis. Charges in opposition to Anthony had been later dropped.

If discovered responsible on expenses of assault with a lethal weapon, Hong may withstand 4 years in jail and a positive of $10,000, whereas Whitlock may withstand six months in jail and a positive of $3,000.