Shoplifting suspect was running away when he was shot, police say

A Canton security guard is facing charges after police say he shot a man over a shoplifted candy bar.Alvin Gardner was shot three weeks ago outside a Fred’s store in Canton. Store managers spotted Gardner on security cameras stuffing a Snickers candy bar into his pocket and alerted the guard, Bennie Montgomery, according to police.Montgomery followed Gardner out of the store and fired warning shots before police said he shot Gardner in the back of his right leg.“You can’t just discharge a firearm at a fleeing suspect. You can’t do that,” Canton Police Chief Otha Brown said. “The security guard should have known that when the suspect ran out the store, the threat was over. There was no need to discharge a firearm."The bullet struck an artery in Gardner’s leg, causing him to lose consciousness because he lost so much blood, police said. He is recovering at the University of Mississippi Medical Center.Montgomery is charged with aggravated assault.22758298

A Canton security guard is facing charges after police say he shot a man over a shoplifted candy bar.



Alvin Gardner was shot three weeks ago outside a Fred’s store in Canton. Store managers spotted Gardner on security cameras stuffing a Snickers candy bar into his pocket and alerted the guard, Bennie Montgomery, according to police.




Montgomery followed Gardner out of the store and fired warning shots before police said he shot Gardner in the back of his right leg.



“You can’t just discharge a firearm at a fleeing suspect. You can’t do that,” Canton Police Chief Otha Brown said. “The security guard should have known that when the suspect ran out the store, the threat was over. There was no need to discharge a firearm."



The bullet struck an artery in Gardner’s leg, causing him to lose consciousness because he lost so much blood, police said. He is recovering at the University of Mississippi Medical Center.



Montgomery is charged with aggravated assault.





