Sedro-Woolley store owner killed chasing fleeing shoplifter
Oct 3, 2014, 4:42 PM | Updated: 5:07 pm
An alleged shoplifter who fled a Sedro-Woolley convenience store, leading to the death of the owner as she chased him, is shown in this surveillance image. (Sedro-Woolley Police Department via Skagit Breaking)
(Sedro-Woolley Police Department via Skagit Breaking)
The search is on for a suspected shoplifter and his accomplices who struck and killed the owner of a small convenience store in Sedro-Woolley as they sped away from the scene.
Police say the man grabbed two cases of beer from the James Market on West State Street around 9:30 p.m. Thursday night.
The woman and her nephew chased after the man as he ran out and jumped into an SUV waiting in the parking lot with the three others inside, says Sgt. Dan Mcilraith.
The woman grabbed one of the passengers as the SUV sped off, but was knocked to the ground and hit or dragged by the SUV.
Medics responded, but the woman died from her injuries as she was transported to the hospital.
The shoplifting suspect is described as a white male wearing a red shirt and Oakland Raiders cap.
He was reportedly in the rear passenger seat with another man. A male driver and another woman were in the front.
The driver of the SUV is described as a white male in his mid-20s to 30s wearing a gray hoodie sweatshirt.
Mcilraith says the store owner is believed to be a Korean-American woman who suffered a broken leg several years ago while trying to stop another shoplifting.
He’s urging the others in the SUV to come forward and identify the suspect.
“If you want to be a witness or you want to be a suspect, that’s your choice right now,” he says.
Anyone with information is urged to call the Sedro-Woolley Police Department at 360-428-3211.
