Walmart Customer in Florida Dies After Intervening in Fight Between Off-Duty Employee, Woman Working Shift

An off-duty Walmart employee in Florida has been arrested after a fight with a fellow employee ended with a customer being fatally shot, according to authorities.

Around 2 p.m. on May 2, officers received a call reporting a shooting inside Walmart in Lauderdale Lakes, according to the Broward Sheriff’s Office.

Once at the scene, officers found an adult male suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. He was airlifted to Broward Health Medical Center where he was pronounced dead.

Investigators said Tironie Sterling, 22, went to the Walmart store to meet with a female coworker. Sterling and the woman got into an argument, which escalated into a fight.

During the fight, Sterling dropped a handgun onto the floor while trying to steal the woman’s cell phone, officials said. A male customer tried to come to the aid of the woman, but Sterling retrieved his gun and shot the man several times, killing him.

Officials have not released the name or age of the victim.

Investigators said Sterling then fled the store, but he was arrested hours later.

Sterling was charged with first-degree murder and armed robbery by sudden snatching. He was booked into the Broward County Main Jail and held without bond, police said.

Never miss a story — sign up for the Front Page Detectives newsletter. Be on the scene the moment news breaks.

Walmart spokesman Charles Crowson said, “Senseless violence like this is intolerable, and we’re heartbroken the customer who intervened in an apparent attack on one of our associates has died from his injuries,” the AP reported.

Crowson said Sterling has been suspended and “steps are underway to terminate his employment,” according to the AP.