Report: Wife Says Lithonia Walmart Shoplifting Suspect Was Good Person, Had Drug Problem

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.