Robbery suspect shot at San Carlos Home Depot after assaulting security guard: Sheriff's office
SAN CARLOS, Calif. (KGO) -- A shoplifting suspect at a Home Depot in San Carlos was shot Monday night after assaulting an armed security guard, the San Mateo County Sheriff's Office says.
The incident happened around 10 p.m. at the Home Depot at 1125 Old County Road.
Officials say store employees confronted the suspect on suspicion of shoplifting, which led to a physical altercation.
The suspect was able to grab a security guard's collapsible baton and started hitting the guard in the head and face. The suspect then threw the baton through a glass window near the entrance to the store.
After being assaulted, the security guard then shot and injured the suspect. The suspect was then arrested, but both were transported to hospitals with non-life-threatening injuries.
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"This particular home depot we have had 13 shoplifting calls within the past year. It is a high trafficked area. Very centralized area," Sheriff Sgt. Javier Acosta said.
This incident is now causing shoppers to be hesitant about going to Home Depot.
"Well I hope I don't get shot," said Andre Balic, a San Carlos resident who shops their weekly. "We all get up in the morning and hope everything is going to be fine."
Others are questioning if security actually keeps them safe.
"I don't know what is right and what is wrong," said Sonny, a Redwood City resident who did not want to share his last name. "You want to catch the guy, but you don't want to be killed either."
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Earlier this year, a Home Depot worker in Pleasanton was shot and killed after trying to stop a robbery.
Last year, a man was accused of burning down the San Jose Home Depot to distract workers while he stole tools.
With this latest incident, shoppers hope this sparks change.
"Improve the laws where help people that need help. We help people that are poor. We need to work together," Balic said.
The San Mateo County Sheriff's Office is asking anyone with information on the incident to call them at 650-363-4911.
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