The GameStop assistant manager who fatally shot a 21-year-old Florida Memorial University sophomore he suspected was shoplifting wants forgiveness from the young man’s family. The family members of the deceased say they want justice.
A split-second decision has forever changed retired Marine Derrick Guerrero’s life. On Tuesday, Oct. 17, while on his shift at the popular video game store in Pembroke Pines, Florida, the 33-year-old suspected someone was stealing from the store.
The store worker confronted the person, which led to the two fighting.
As the suspect, who has now been identified by his family as Chadrick Coats, ran out of the store with $500 worth of Pokemon Scarlet & Violet Ultra-Premium Collection trading cards, police say Guerrero pulled his firearm from his waistband and fired it in the student’s direction. The store employee shot one bullet, wounding Coats severely in his torso.
“At no time did the victim threaten Guerrero or display any type of weapon,” police said in a release on Facebook, adding, “The victim was transported to a nearby hospital where he died as a result of his injuries.”
