Security guard killed at Ramona Kmart

[UtahProtectionForce]

A security guard at a Ramona Kmart was shot dead while chasing a shoplifter into the parking lot today, authorities said.

The guard apparently confronted a shoplifter about 3 p.m., and a struggle ensued, said Sheriff's homicide Lt. Dennis Brugos.

The shoplifter pulled out a gun and shot the security guard in front of the Kmart's garden shop, Brugos said. He said customers took the gunman into custody and called authorities. The security guard was pronounced dead at the scene.

Ramona resident Aaron Abrahamsen, 13, witnessed the commotion. "I was just walking into the garden shop, looking for a friend, and I heard four loud shots that I thought were firecrackers," Abrahamsen said.

"They seemed to be near the front of the shop. Tons of employees came running in," shouting that someone had been shot, he said. A few minutes later, Abrahamsen said he walked outside and saw paramedics trying to revive a white man.

Deputies cordoned off the parking lot area at the store, including the Los Rancheros restaurant, on Main Street near Pala Street for more than three hours.
--Mark Arner

http://weblog.signonsandiego.com/news/breaking/2007/07/security_guard_killed_at_ramon.html

[metalgolem]

July 25, 2007

JULIAN – Petty Officer David Busby II, a U.S. Navy gunner's mate, survived one tour of duty in Iraq.

But it was an encounter with a shoplifter that claimed his life Saturday.
The 34-year-old father, who moonlighted as a security guard at a Kmart in Ramona, was fatally shot after confronting a theft suspect in the parking lot.

He left behind a wife, Lauren, and a 15-month-old son, Wyatt, who live in Julian.

“I am really angry – angry at the idiot who's done this,” said his father, David Busby, from his home in Kansas. “This is tearing us up.”

His son joined the Navy nine years ago and was stationed in San Diego, where he met his wife.

Most recently, he was a member of Precommissioning Unit Independence, or part of the initial crew for a ship still under construction.

“My husband, David, put 100 percent into whatever he did and loved working both in the Navy and in Ramona,” his wife said in a statement. “He was strong, loving, funny and never hesitated to help someone. He was looking forward to watching his son grow and spending time together before his deployment.”

Busby took the part-time job at Kmart as a loss prevention officer a few years ago to earn extra money for his family, said his father, a former security guard.

“You try not to think about (the danger), but it's always in the back of your mind,” his father said, recalling his own experiences on the job. “You have to deal with all kinds of people, not knowing the frame of mind they come in with.”

On Saturday afternoon, a man triggered an anti-theft alarm while leaving the store, and Busby followed him into the parking lot, according to the Sheriff's Department.

A struggle ensued, and a second loss prevention officer came to help.

The shoplifter then reached into his waistband for a gun and shot Busby.

Busby died a short time later, the same day as his parents' wedding anniversary.

Nearby customers chased the suspect, grabbed his gun and handcuffed him until deputies arrived.

Andrew Nicholas Griffith, 28, was arrested on suspicion of murder. He is scheduled to be arraigned today in El Cajon Superior Court.

Sears Holding Corp., which owns Kmart, has set up the David Busby Memorial Fund for his family. Sears and Kmart stores are accepting donations through Aug. 7.

Daniel Busby, 29, described his brother as a proud father who talked nonstop about his son.

“He was one of the best men I knew.”


How horribly sad. To have survived a deployment to the war in Iraq and come
home to further provide for your family and to die at the hands of a POS shoplifter.

This (and on-duty killings of law enforcement/corrections officers) are the
type of crimes that the death penalty were made for.

RIP

[SecTrainer]

This was posted in the newspaper's forum related to this story:

"I grew up next door to the shooter, he went by Nick and this is not the first time he has been in trouble with the law. Our houses were right next to each other and one day he decided to target practice in his bedroom by shooting beer cans off his dresser. The direction he was shooting was pointed directly at our dinning room, thankfully no one was hurt but the exit holes were very visible. He was in his teens at the time and very into warfare and pretending. We always knew he was going to hurt someone some day if he didn't get help or some guidance in his life."

Assuming the truth of this post, it looks like another example of one of those trains that we had to know would be pulling into the station sooner or later...while we stand on the tracks waiting. When will we learn to deal with these people *before* they kill someone or shoot up the store, the workplace or the school?

[Bill Warnock]

This was posted in the newspaper's forum related to this story:

"I grew up next door to the shooter, he went by Nick and this is not the first time he has been in trouble with the law. Our houses were right next to each other and one day he decided to target practice in his bedroom by shooting beer cans off his dresser. The direction he was shooting was pointed directly at our dinning room, thankfully no one was hurt but the exit holes were very visible. He was in his teens at the time and very into warfare and pretending. We always knew he was going to hurt someone some day if he didn't get help or some guidance in his life."

Assuming the truth of this post, it looks like another example of one of those trains that we had to know would be pulling into the station sooner or later...while we stand on the tracks waiting. When will we learn to deal with these people *before* they kill someone or shoot up the store, the workplace or the school?

SecTrainer we know from case studies there are indicators of future behavior immediately or within near term. Some of these indicators are subtle or blatant.
We sometimes decide to keep our suspicions to ourselves or are rebuffed when reporting them. Perhaps we lack specifics or a lack of clarity. If we have clearly enunciated the patterns we have seen and are disregarded by proper authorities, then the blame resides with others. If we say nothing then the blame rests solely with us.
Things don't just happen there are causes.
Enjoy the day,
Bill