1000+ unique media and news posts every 24 hours…
A Jacksonville beauty supply store employee died after she was run over Friday evening while trying to confront a suspected shoplifter in the parking lot outside the Southside business.
The victim was struck outside the Beauty Max at 11900 Atlantic Blvd around 6 p.m. at Kernan Village shopping center by an SUV occupied by at least three people, Sgt. Steve Rudlaff of the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office The homicide unit said this during a press conference.
The woman, whose name and age were not released, was pronounced dead after being rushed to Memorial Hospital, Rudlaff said.
He said police are looking for a dark gray SUV, but no descriptions of the attackers are available.
Sheriff’s Office investigators checked security cameras in the mall and surrounding area in hopes of getting video showing the people involved and the vehicle’s license plate number or other identifying details.
Rudlaff said it started when two individuals entered the business, with someone “grabbing several items and running out of the store with them.”
Shoplifting increases in difficult times
“A store employee followed this person to a car that was waiting for this person,” he said.
The worker was struck, knocked over and run over as the SUV reversed, Rudlaff said. The third person involved in the shoplifting fled on foot.
“They were shoplifting. They were stealing from the business, so she tried to confront them and stop them, but unfortunately she got run over in the process,” said Rudlaff, noting that no weapon was seen.
Eight arrested in two-year undercover shoplifting investigation
The Sheriff’s Office is asking anyone who was in the parking lot at the time or has any other information or video to contact them at (904) 630-0500.
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Store worker in Jacksonville is struck and killed by fleeing shoplifters
1000+ unique media and news posts every 24 hours…