Report: Wife Says Lithonia Walmart Shoplifting Suspect Was Good Person, Had Drug Problem
The wife of the man who died after an altercation with store employees and a security officer at a Lithonia Walmart spoke with wsbtv about the incident, which is still under investigation.
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The wife of an alleged shoplifting suspect at the Walmart on Fairington Road, who died after a reported fight with store employees and a security officer in the parking lot early Sunday, told wsbtv that her husband was a "good person" who had a drug problem.
See story: Man Dead Aftter Altercation at Lithonia Walmart
Fatimah Calloway told the television station that the problem could explain why Vidal Calloway, 40, allegedly shoplifted two DVD players from the store on Nov. 25.
Store employees caught the suspect in the parking lot and a fight occurred while the employees tried to detain the man for police, according to the police report, WSB said. The man was found unresponsive when police handcuffed him and bleeding from his nose and mouth, according to the report.
Walmart on Monday provided a statement about the incident, calling it a "truly sad situation" and that it is working with law enforcement to get all the facts. “If it is determined that our policy was not followed, we will take the appropriate action at the appropriate time," Walmart spokeswoman Dianna Gee said.
See also: Walmart's full statement on the incident.
The suspect's cause of death has not yet been determined.
Joseph L. Buki
11:52 am on Tuesday, November 27, 2012
Ahhh, drug addict and good person don't add up; thief and good person doesn't add up; estranged husband?, apparently not a good enough person to stick with. Most likely cause of death, directly or indirectly, was his drug abusing habit(s).
George R. Malone
9:41 pm on Tuesday, November 27, 2012
She did not say he had been arrested 16 times in the past.
Teamthompson
10:07 am on Wednesday, November 28, 2012
Doesnt matter He did not deserve to die. The self rightousness of people today just blows my mind. One should not take something that they can't give. I don't know of any man who can gvie back life once it is taken.
Me
12:32 pm on Wednesday, November 28, 2012
Yep, sounds like he took his own life with drug abuse. Bad choice.
Kevin Madigan
12:57 pm on Wednesday, November 28, 2012
We're told his mother works in the cafeteria at Tucker High School.
Ferryn
8:54 pm on Tuesday, December 4, 2012
Am I missing something, or hasn't the cause of death been released? It doesnt make sense that a man healthy enough to shoplift & evade security didn't just die on his own. Pretty sure those employees caused his death,and if so, why is no one being arrested for manslaughter? Those employees should be sitting in jail, not sitting at home collecting a paycheck.