A GameStop clerk in Pembroke Pines, Florida has been charged with manslaughter after fatally shooting a shoplifter who was stealing Pokemon trading cards. The incident occurred on Tuesday night when the suspect grabbed five boxes of Pokemon Scarlet & Violet “ultra-premium” trading cards worth $120 each and attempted to flee the store. The clerk, Derrick Guerrero, fired a single shot at the shoplifter, hitting him in the side. The suspect dropped the cards and ran to a waiting pickup truck before being taken to the hospital, where he later died.
According to the police report, the store’s security cameras showed that the shoplifter did not pose a threat to Guerrero and did not display any weapons. However, under Florida’s “stand your ground” law, deadly force can be used if there is a threat of death or great bodily harm. The law does not allow the use of deadly force simply to protect property. Manslaughter charges were filed against Guerrero since the shooting was deemed to be unplanned and in the heat of the moment.
Guerrero is currently being held at the Broward County Jail with a bail amount of $25,000. It is unclear at this time if he has retained an attorney. GameStop has not yet issued a statement regarding the incident.
