Wal-Mart Fires 4 Employees Who Disarmed Gunman

They're brave, but that violates store policy
By John Johnson,  Newser Staff
Posted Feb 15, 2011 1:12 PM CST

Wal-Mart is a stickler for store policy: It fired four employees in Utah after they disarmed a convicted felon who pulled a gun on them. After the employees saw the man try to shoplift a netbook, they escorted him to a store office, reports AoL News. There, he pulled out the handgun and pressed it to an employee's back before being overwhelmed and subdued. Police credited the employees with acting in the "best interest and safety" of those around them, but Wal-Mart gave them pink slips.

The chain cited store policy that requires employees to back off if somebody "brandishes or threatens use of a weapon." The employees say they felt they had no choice, adding that the gunman wanted to walk back out into the store area, which would have put customers and other workers at risk. The incident happened last month, first reported by the Deseret News, and is getting national traction now with CNN coverage. (See video in the gallery.) "I honestly felt worse than when I had the gun to my back," said one of the four about his firing. "I honestly felt betrayed." Click for more.
(More Walmart stories.)

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