Walmart brawl turns deadly as accused shoplifter shoots worker, North Carolina cops say
A Walmart brawl took a deadly turn when an accused shoplifter shot a worker in North Carolina, deputies said.
The Wilmington-area worker, 67-year-old Mark Thomas Paz, is remembered in news reports as a grandfather who was friendly to everyone.
“If you said you needed a shirt off his back, he would take it off and give it to you,” friend Susie Burket told the StarNews. “That’s just the kind of person he was.”
The New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office said Paz was killed while he was working at the store’s Carolina Beach Road location Saturday, Nov. 2.
“Several Walmart employees attempted to stop a man from shoplifting when a fight occurred,” deputies wrote in a Facebook post. “The suspect brandished a firearm and fired one shot hitting a Walmart employee. The victim died at the scene.”
Deputies said the man suspected of shooting Paz left the store but was captured in the parking lot and charged with first-degree murder. News outlets didn’t list attorney information for the man, identified as 35-year-old Dean Michael Newman.
Newman, who also was charged with “possession of a firearm by a felon,” was in jail without bond, the StarNews reported. After his arrest, Walmart said it’s helping officials in their investigation.
“We are heartbroken about what happened to Mark,” Walmart told McClatchy News in an emailed statement. “Violence like this is unacceptable. We are focused on supporting our associates and will be offering on-site counseling services.”
Meanwhile, Burket holds on to the memory that Paz and her husband formed a close bond, sharing golf outings and Thanksgiving dinners together. She told news outlets she plans to bring her late friend’s photo to Newman’s next court hearing, scheduled for Nov. 21.
“He was at Walmart working,” Burket told WECT. “You would think your workplace is a safe place.”
A Facebook user believed to be Burket didn’t immediately respond to McClatchy News’ request for comment on Nov. 6.
“When you had Mark’s love you knew that you had Mark’s love, and you had a true friend in Mark,” Burket told the StarNews.
This story was originally published November 6, 2024 at 1:21 PM with the headline "Walmart brawl turns deadly as accused shoplifter shoots worker, North Carolina cops say."
