A Memphis grocery store manager shot an armed suspect during an attempted robbery in Frayser, TN. The incident, which occurred amid a snowstorm, involved multiple suspects stealing groceries.

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FRAYSER, TN (2-minute read) — A Memphis grocery store manager acted in self-defense last Friday during a snowstorm when he shot a man who had threatened him with a firearm outside Gordin’s Foods & Butcher Shoppe. The incident began around 11:15 a.m. when three individuals, including two teenagers, attempted to shoplift $200 worth of groceries. Court documents revealed that the suspects were confronted by the manager in the parking lot.

The situation escalated when the getaway driver, later identified as Robby Wooten, exited a van, threatened to kill the manager, and fired a shot into the air before pointing his firearm at the manager. Fearing for his life, the manager retrieved his own firearm and shot Wooten, prompting the group to flee the scene. Wooten, found critically injured nearby on Ridgecrest Street, was taken to Regional One Health for treatment and is now facing charges that include aggravated assault, theft, and possession of a firearm as a convicted felon.

Memphis police also apprehended Dustin Fultz, a 22-year-old suspect believed to be one of the shoplifters. Fultz was charged with aggravated assault and theft and is being held on a $100,000 bond. Two 17-year-old suspects were also arrested and charged with aggravated assault and theft. Their bond information was not disclosed.

The manager’s actions have sparked conversations around the role of self-defense during criminal incidents. Tennessee law generally supports an individual’s right to protect themselves or others when faced with a credible threat, such as the one described in this case.

Safety Tip: Always ensure you are familiar with your state’s self-defense laws, including when the use of a firearm is legally justified. Be cautious when intervening in crimes and prioritize alerting law enforcement whenever possible.