SAN CARLOS — A security guard shot and wounded a shoplifting suspect at a San Carlos home-improvement store after the man allegedly attacked the guard with his own baton, according to authorities.
The San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release that around 10 p.m. Monday — near the end of the store’s posted hours of operation — a 26-year-old man was accused of shoplifting by employees at the Home Depot at 1125 Old County Road. A physical confrontation broke out when store employees confronted the man.
He was able to take a baton from a security guard during the brawl, authorities said. The man hit the guard on the head before throwing the baton through a window near the entrance to the store.
The security guard then fired two shots at the man, hitting him once. A sheriff’s deputy, who happened to be nearby, heard the gunfire and responded to the scene, requesting more officers and medical assistance.
The suspect was arrested at the scene. Authorities said they were investigating the incident to determine if the security guard would face any criminal sanction for the shooting.
Both the man and guard were taken to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, according to authorities.
The San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office asked anyone with information pertaining to this incident to call at 650-363-4911.