Commonsense & Wonder

Suspects try to steal $1,600 in tools from a local store. Then six armed customers surround them

 SARAH TAYLOR

Two unnamed men reportedly walked into a Marysville, Washington, store on Saturday and lifted four nail guns that retailed around $400 a piece.

When the suspects — ages 22 and 23 — left the store and got into their car, at least six armed customers surrounded the vehicle with their weapons drawn.

What are the details?

When one of the suspects reportedly tried to drive away despite being surrounded, the other suspect said, "He won't shoot, run him over."
The suspect who was driving attempted to pull away and did reportedly strike one of the armed customers, causing him to land on the hood of the getaway vehicle.
One of the armed customers, however, did shoot, firing at the one of the vehicle's front tires. Another customer fired at the vehicle's rear tires.
Police discovered the suspects' vehicle three blocks away — with two flat tires and the stolen merchandise still inside. Authorities found the suspects after a search and the two men were booked into the Snohomish County Jail on charges of first-degree theft.

What are authorities saying about the incident?

On Saturday, the Marysville Police Department tweeted a request that the customers involved in the stand-off to come forward and provide statements.
"We believe that at least two civilians fired at the shoplifters or the shoplifter's car as it was fleeing the store," the tweet read. "Those citizens then left before police arrived. We are asking that those who fired contact MSVL police to provide us a statement as to what they saw."
Marysville Police Department's Commander Mark Thomas told KIRO-FMthat he hopes those involved in the altercation would come forward and do the right thing.

"If you're a lawful citizen and you're carrying a firearm legally, and for whatever reason you choose to use your weapon to engage someone for whatever you perceive the right reason to be, then you're obligated to stay and talk to the authorities," Thomas said.
"Any time anybody's firing a weapon, lawfully or not, in a public place, especially a crowded public retail parking lot a few days before Christmas, it's going to draw the interest of law enforcement," he added. "[It's] a matter that we're gravely concerned about; we want to get to the bottom of it."