FLORIDA CITY, Fla. – A shoplifting attempt escalated into a standoff with Florida City police Saturday afternoon when a Miami man barricaded himself inside a Walmart loss prevention office and held an employee hostage with a stolen gun, authorities confirmed Monday.
Videos show the fear in and out of the Walmart Supercenter, at 33501 South Dixie Highway. Police officers with the Miami-Dade and Florida City police departments and Miami-Dade Fire Rescue personnel responded.
Florida City police said officers were dispatched after a call from a loss prevention associate, who reported that James Hackler, 70, of Coconut Grove, had been seen concealing merchandise and attempting to leave the store without paying at around 12:15 p.m.
Police said they struggled with Hackler but had to retreat outside the office for cover when he reached for the weapon. Hackler then barricaded himself in the room, holding the loss prevention officer hostage, the arrest report said.
Police said the standoff lasted for approximately 20 minutes before Hackler was taken into custody.
The loss prevention officer later told authorities that Hackler had threatened her, stating she should “not move or he would shoot her.”
Despite this, the victim managed to keep the situation calm and ultimately convinced Hackler to release her unharmed at around 12:30 p.m., investigators said.
Police confirmed that officers immediately began issuing commands for Hackler to surrender. By 12:40 p.m., Hackler emerged from the office unarmed and was taken into custody after briefly resisting arrest, the report stated.
A search of the office revealed that Hackler had hidden the gun behind a drawer. A serial number check confirmed the weapon had been reported stolen in Miami.
The officer and escorted Hackler to the loss prevention office for further questioning. While there, Hackler opened his backpack, revealing a 9 mm Kimber semi-automatic gun, police said.
Authorities said the Walmart, which was evacuated during the standoff, reopened later that same afternoon.
Authorities said Hackler, the victim and Florida City police officer were evaluated by MDFR personnel for injuries sustained during the confrontation.
Hackler was transported to Homestead Hospital for clearance before being booked into Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center, his arrest report stated.
Investigators have not disclosed a motive for the incident.
Jail records show Hackler is facing two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and one count each of aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer and false imprisonment with a deadly weapon.
As of Monday, he remains at TGK, where his bond was listed as “to be set.”