Pineville Walmart employee shot during scuffle sparked over stolen chicken: Police

PINEVILLE, N.C. ( QUEEN CITY NEWS ) — A Walmart employee was shot in the leg during a scuffle inside the store that began over unpaid chicken, according to the Pineville Police Department.

The incident happened sometime before 6:30 p.m. on Sunday, January 28, at the Walmart Neighborhood Market on Pineville-Matthews Road in Pineville.

According to police, the suspect, Jonathan Alan Smith, was checking out at the self-checkout station when a Walmart employee noticed that he had not scanned some chicken and dog food.

Authorities said the Walmart employee confronted Smith. Smith then paid for the dog food but still failed to pay for the chicken, police explained.

The employee then attempted to grab the stolen chicken from Smith. Authorities said, “A scuffle between them started when Walmart employees broke up the fight.”

Smith left the store but returned shortly after with a firearm near his right pocket, police said.

Story continues