Walmart loss prevention officer killed pursuing suspected shoplifter

GWINNETT COUNTY, Ga. (WSB-TV) —Police are searching for a murder suspect who shot and killed a Walmart worker.

It happened on Lawrenceville Highway in Lilburn.

Short vid of suspect wanted for killing Walmart worker in Gwinnett Co. Loss prevention ofc tried to stop shoplifting pic.twitter.com/IEzR1yC1Xk

— Steve Gehlbach (@SteveGWSB) April 11, 2016

Channel 2’s Darryn Moore was the first reporter at the scene at Walmart where he talked to police.

“The subject had several flat screens in a shopping cart he was trying to push out the door,” Lilburn Police Department Capt. Thomas Bardugon said.

Lilburn police gave Moore the photo of the murder suspect. He is bald and was wearing dark pants.

Police say it started when two loss prevention officers confronted a man trying to leave with a shopping cart full of flat screen TVs.

Police are looking for this man and a red sedan in the shooting death of a Walmart loss prevention officer. pic.twitter.com/xOxfpgkgWg

— WSB-TV (@wsbtv) April 11, 2016

When the Walmart officers stopped him at the door a fight broke out. One officer died at the hospital.

He was identified as 25-year-old Jay Ferguson.

The Lilburn Walmart issued the following statement Monday:

“We are deeply saddened by the senseless and tragic loss of our friend and colleague last night. Our heartfelt thoughts and prayers are with the Ferguson family at this difficult time. We will continue to support law enforcement in their ongoing investigation.”

Police said video cameras captured the suspect driving off after the shooting. He was in a dark red or red-ish sedan, police said.

Georgia Bureau of Investigation crime scene investigators assisted with collecting evidence.

They recovered a security radio, a bullet shell casing and took with them three Sony flat screen TVs.

*Photo via WSB-TV