On December 18, 2025, Walmart store employees contacted Canton Police after detaining two people suspected of shoplifting and brought them into the store’s loss prevention office to wait for officers. A Canton police officer arrived and began the standard process of identifying the suspects and checking for weapons. At that point, the situation appeared calm, with no immediate signs that the encounter would turn violent. Several minutes into the detention, the male suspect, later identified as 21-year-old Shane C. L. Newman, suddenly reached into his clothing and produced a handgun while seated in the office. He pointed the weapon at the officer and attempted to fire, but the gun did not discharge. The officer and a Walmart loss prevention employee immediately rushed Newman, wrestling him to the ground and securing him in handcuffs. No one was injured during the struggle.