Ohio Cop Nearly Shot at Point-Blank Range by Walmart Shoplifting Suspect [WATCH]

A shoplifting detention inside a Walmart in Canton, Ohio, escalated into a life-threatening confrontation Thursday after a suspect allegedly attempted to shoot a police officer at point-blank range but was stopped when the weapon failed to fire and a store security worker intervened, according to authorities and body camera footage.

The incident occurred after police responded to a report of suspected theft involving a man and a woman inside the store.

The two were detained by Walmart staff and escorted to a security room to wait for police, according to reports.

Once inside the room, a Canton police officer began questioning and searching the male suspect, later identified by FOX 8 as 21-year-old Shane Newman.

Body camera video from the officer, which had been placed on a table in the room, initially showed a calm and orderly scene.

A Walmart employee can be seen handing the officer a pen and paper while Newman and the woman sat on a bench.

Moments later, the situation changed abruptly.

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According to the bodycam footage, Newman suddenly turned toward the officer, pulled out a firearm, and attempted to shoot him at close range.

As the woman screamed, “No, no, no!” a clicking sound could be heard as Newman appeared to pull the trigger.

The gun did not fire.

The Walmart security worker immediately lunged toward Newman in an effort to restrain him.

Despite that, Newman raised the firearm again and attempted to fire a second time.

Another clicking sound could be heard, indicating the weapon again failed to discharge.

The employee then knocked the gun out of Newman’s hands as the officer drew his own weapon and shouted, “Get back! Get back!”

With the gun dislodged, the officer moved in and was able to pin Newman to the floor while the Walmart worker assisted.

Additional officers arrived shortly afterward, and both suspects were taken into custody.

In the body camera footage, the officer told responding officers that Newman had “pulled the gun out, pointed it at my head and pulled the trigger,” but the weapon malfunctioned and did not fire.

The officer said he drew his own firearm during the struggle but did not shoot because he feared hitting the Walmart employee who was wrestling with Newman to disarm him.

The officer also acknowledged during the footage that he had missed the firearm during his initial search of Newman, noting that the gun had been concealed inside a shoulder bag.

According to the officer, he had just been informed seconds before the attack that Newman had an active warrant for his arrest and was considered “armed and dangerous.”

Court records show Newman has since been charged with attempted murder and felonious assault on a police officer.

The woman detained alongside Newman was identified by FOX 8 as Katerina Jeffrey. She was charged with complicity to commit robbery and having weapons under disability for possession of ammunition.

Prior to the violent confrontation, the bodycam footage captured the officer conducting a routine search and questioning Newman about whether he had anything on him.

Newman told the officer that all he had was a cellphone.

He then voluntarily handed over a small container from his pocket, which investigators said contained illegal drugs, according to FOX 8.

During the same exchange, Jeffrey asked the officer, “Are we going to jail?”

“Not unless something crazy happens,” the officer replied.

Within moments, the situation escalated into the attempted shooting.

Authorities credited the Walmart security employee’s quick action and the firearm’s apparent malfunction with preventing a potentially deadly outcome.

The investigation into the incident remains ongoing.