Loss Prevention Officer Slain by Suspected Shoplifter

Law enforcement officials are still on the hunt for an accused shoplifter who killed a Walmart loss prevention officer in Lilburn, Georgia, on the evening of April 10. Police believe that the suspect was attempting to steal three flat screen televisions around 9 p.m. that night when he was confronted by J.D. Ferguson, one of the store’s loss prevention officers.

According to Lilburn Police Captain Thom Bardugan, Ferguson was unarmed when he approached the suspected shoplifter and asked for a receipt for the TVs. The man then pulled out a gun and shot Ferguson in the stomach. A second Walmart security officer at the scene was not injured. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution website reported that Ferguson was rushed to Gwinnett Medical Center but died a short time later from his injuries.

Ferguson, a married father of three, had worked at the store seven months when he was shot. In addition to his wife, Tiana, Ferguson is survived by the couple’s 1-year-old son, Jordan, and daughters Aryana, 3, and Ava, 3 months. A  GoFundMe page has since been set up in order to assist Ferguson’s family.

Additionally, the Loss Prevention Benevolent Fund was established as a way to honor LP professionals who were lost during the course of their duty. In addition to providing financial assistance to the families of fallen asset protection professionals who lost their lives while performing the responsibilities of their jobs, the Loss Prevention Benevolent Fund (LPBF) also provides assistance to professionals who have experienced a life-changing event that has created a financial hardship.

We ask our great LP/AP community to reach out and support the families of our fallen friends and colleagues, as well as those that need the relief that we can provide through our extended family in a time of exceptional need. One hundred percent of all raised proceeds go back to the struggling families.

The Loss Prevention Benevolent Fund will once again be highlighted during the RILA Asset Protection Conference April 17-20 in Dallas, Texas as a means to help support these families. Click here to learn more

The surveillance camera photos aren’t the clearest. But police in Gwinnett County hope they’ll help someone identify the man accused of killing Ferguson. The vehicle pictured above right is the car that was used by the suspect, and the photos below are of the suspect attempting to exit with the televisions. Anyone with information related to the shooter can contact Gwinnett County Police at (770) 638-2218.