Police in High Point, North Carolina, have arrested the suspect in a fight in a local Walmart that left one officer with a bullet wound to the hand.
Tyler N. Carrico, 26, faces charges of felony assault with a deadly weapon on a law enforcement officer, misdemeanor assault on a law enforcement officer, and injury to personal property.
According to the Winston-Salem Journal, police were called to the Walmart on South Main Street in High Point around 9 p.m. on Sunday, July 22, to remove a trespasser who refused to leave the store.
The first responding officer found Carrico sitting in a corner in the Customer Service area. While the officer was processing Carrico’s information, Carrico took off running into through store.
The officer tackled Carrico and held him at gunpoint while radioing for backup.
When the second officer arrived, Carrico again attempted to escape, this time attacking the first officer and trying to take away his firearm.
The gun discharged and the bullet struck the officer in his hand. Though wounded, this officer continued to chase the suspect.
Both officers pursued Carrico through the store, eventually catching him in the self-checkout area. The second officer caught Carrico and attempted to handcuff him, but Carrico was able to break free after punching the officer repeatedly.
While the chase was unfolding, more officers arrived and joined in. Carrico was finally cornered in the produce section. Officers wrestled him down and because of the violence of his struggles, restrained him in both handcuffs and leg irons.
Carrico was taken to a local hospital for evaluation because of his excessively aggressive behavior.
The wounded officer was transported to Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem. His injury was not life-threatening.
The officer who was punched repeatedly did not need medical treatment.
Carrico, despite his violent behavior, was not injured while being arrested. No Walmart patrons or employees were injured either.