Customer fires at Auburn Hills shoplifting suspects

Auburn Hills — Police responding to a “shots fired” call at a Home Depot store said a customer apparently tried to stop a shoplifter by firing at a fleeing vehicle.

The incident occurred at 2 p.m. at the store on Joslyn, according to a police press release.

A 47- year-old Clarkston woman in the parking lot witnessed one of the store’s loss prevention officers trying to stop a shoplifting suspect getting into a dark colored SUV. The customer — identified as a concealed pistol license holder — reportedly fired shots at the dark-colored SUV as it sped out of the lot.

It’s unknown how many rounds were fired from her 9mm handgun, but police believe she hit and flattened one of the vehicle’s rear tires as it sped off in the direction of Brown Road.

It was not known if anyone was injured in the incident. The customer remained on the scene and was cooperating with police. A report is to be turned over to the county prosecutor for review of possible charges, if any, on the woman.

The shoplifters were identified as a man in his 40s, who was driving the vehicle, and a man in his mid-40s wearing a black shirt with yellow writing and a black baseball cap. The second man is believed to have run out of the store with a large box of unknown content or value, police said.

The incident remains under investigation. Anyone with information on the incident or the suspects is asked to call police at (248) 370-9444.

mmartindale@detroitnews.com

(248) 338-0319