Suspected Shoplifter Shoots Store Manager With Pellet Gun

A Sugar Hill woman is facing numerous charges after allegedly shooting a store manager with a pellet gun during a shoplifting attempt.

Police were called to the on June 18 after a woman, later identified as Catherine Sheridan, 24, of 5235 Sugar Crest Drive in Sugar Hill, reportedly withdrew a pellet gun from her fanny pack and began shooting after being stopped on her way out of the store.

The victim said he and another manager stopped Sheridan after seeing her pick up three pairs of pants, a pair of sneakers and a bottle of water before heading towards the store exit. The victim and the other manager stopped Sheridan and asked for her receipt. Sheridan was unable to produce one and said she had asked the cashier to throw it away. When the victim asked which cashier had the receipt, Sheridan reportedly said she did not know. The victim began questioning Sheridan about the items she had picked up and asked her to step back inside the store. When Sheridan attempted to walk out the door, the victim stepped in front of her. At that point, Sheridan allegedly unzipped the fanny pack she was wearing, pulled out what appeared to be a black gun and started shooting.

The victim was struck in the abdomen. According to the police report, the victim had a small, red, round mark on his stomach consistent with being shot with a BB gun or pellet gun.

Sheridan fled from the store. Police established a perimeter around the store and K-9 units responded in an unsuccessful attempt to locate Sheridan.

Approximately an hour later, police received a call from a Briarglen Circle residence concerning a suspicious act. Briarglen Circle is in a subdivision that backs up to the Walmart property.

The caller advised a woman had shown up on her doorstep claiming to have been kidnapped out of Bogan Park. The woman was wet and had scratches on her arms. The caller said she became suspicious of the woman’s story when she realized the woman had a bag of clothes with her despite having previously said she was taking her dog for a walk in the park when the kidnapping occurred. The caller's description of the woman matched that of the pellet gun shooter.

When police arrived, Sheridan was taken into custody and both the victim and witness subsequently identified her as the assailant.

Sheridan was charged with theft by shoplifting, aggravated assault, carrying a concealed weapon and pointing a gun or pistol at another. She remains in the Gwinnett County Jail. Bond has been set at $10,700.

You might also be interested in reading: