A store employee in Valdosta, Georgia, shot dead a 53-year-old man who had opened fire outside the shop and then stormed inside demanding surveillance footage, police have said. The employee has not been charged, with investigators concluding he acted in self-defence.
The shooting happened at about 12:30 a.m. on Sunday, October 25, at a convenience store in the 1300 block of North Troup Street, Valdosta police said. Officers were called after reports of gunfire, and while they were on their way, the store employee rang 911 to say he had shot a man who pulled a gun on him.
According to police, the 53-year-old had been drinking alcohol outside the store while carrying a handgun when he got into an argument with a 38-year-old man. He pulled the gun and began shooting at the younger man, who ran from the store while the gunman kept firing.
The employee, hearing the shots, ran behind the counter to take cover and tried to lock the doors. The gunman then came inside, shouting threats at the clerk and demanding the store’s surveillance video while still holding his gun.
Fearing for his life, the clerk drew his own firearm and shot the man to stop the threat, police said. He then secured the store and called 911. Officers found the 53-year-old lying on the shop floor with multiple gunshot wounds and a handgun beside him. He was taken to hospital, where he later died.
The 38-year-old man who was shot outside was treated at hospital and released. Detectives and crime scene investigators examined surveillance footage and other evidence, which police said showed the clerk fired because he feared for his life. No charges have been brought against the employee.
Valdosta Police Chief Leslie Manahan also criticised bystanders who ran to the store to film the wounded man on the floor instead of calling for help. She said it was deeply concerning that people thought it more important to film a person lying on the ground, to get likes or views, instead of using their phones to call 911.
The investigation continues, and police have not released the names of the dead man or the injured man. Source: Daily Caller (https://dailycaller.com/2026/10/30/would-be-robber-killed-in-convenience-store-shootout), reporting on the Valdosta Police Department account.
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