Arizona hardware employee shot by bystander who tried to stop shoplifter

PHOENIX — An employee at an Arizona hardware store was wounded Saturday when a bystander shot and missed a fleeing shoplifter and struck the worker instead, authorities said.

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According to the Phoenix Police Department, at around 9 a.m. authorities responded to a report of shots being fired outside a Howard’s Ace Hardware store, KNXV reported.

Authorities said the employee was trying to stop a shoplifter and had run out of the store, the television station reported.

A man, who was standing outside the store, witnessed the chase and fired a weapon at the shoplifter, KSAZ reported. However, the shooter missed and struck the employee, the television station reported.

The victim was taken to an area hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries, KNXV reported.

The person believed to be the shoplifter left the scene before police arrived, the television station reported.

The person who fired the shot remained at the scene and cooperated with authorities, according to KSAZ. It is unclear whether charges will be filed.

Cox Media Group