A teenager, accused of attacking a Staunton Walmart employee with a baseball bat, will likely face a felony-level charge.
Because Walmart has an aggressive loss-prevention program, Staunton police say they're at the store on a near-daily basis, investigating reports of possible shoplifting. But Sunday's alleged beating of a loss-prevention officer may be a first.
The alleged assault took place just after 1:00 Sunday afternoon in the sporting goods department of the Walmart on Richmond Road. Police say a 17-year-old boy who was in the store with his grandmother attacked the employee with a bat.
The worker, a male in his 30s, was taken to Augusta Health with injuries to his arms, hand and torso.
Lisa Klein with the Staunton Police Department said, "[He] had not made an approach, had not done anything overt... was just keeping an eye on the young man. The loss-prevention officer came around the corner, and the young man accosted him, grabbed a baseball bat and assaulted him."
Walmart security cameras may yield valuable evidence when the case goes to court. Staunton police say they've identified the suspect, but have not yet made an arrest.
The juvenile left the store before police arrived. He could face a felonious assault or malicious wounding charge based on the use of a weapon, and the severity of the injuries to the loss-prevention officer.
