Man pulls gun in Gastonia Target during shoplifting attempt, police say

GASTON COUNTY, N.C. — A man pulled a gun Monday evening in the Gastonia Target store after he was confronted for shoplifting, police said.

Police said a loss prevention officer confronted Antonio Rodas after he loaded a shopping cart with clothes, a comforter and a baby crib and tried to steal the merchandise around 6:30 p.m.

A loss prevention officer tried to stop Rodas and a scuffle ensued. Rodas pulled out a gun and customers in the store scattered, police said.

One woman, who was hiding in a dressing room, called 911 and said she was told to run.

(Click PLAY to listen to the woman's 911 call)

“Someone has a gun. We were told to run,” the woman told a 911 dispatcher. “People were told to run to the back of the store.”

A man also called 911 and told dispatchers that the man pulled a gun on an employee and then ran out of the store. The caller said the man tried to steal a cart full of merchandise and was confronted by an employee.

(Click PLAY to listen to the man's 

911 call)

The loss prevention officer, who got into a scuffle with Rodas, called 911 and said the man pulled a pistol and that he had a neck tattoo.

(Click PLAY to listen to the loss prevention officer's 

911 call)

"If somebody's going to be crazy enough to fire that weapon, the bullet doesn't have a mind. It's going to, can hit anybody in there," Gastonia police Capt. Michael Lari said.

Rodas pointed the gun at employees, but he did not shoot, police said.

Rodas fled the store.

Police caught up with him quickly in the parking lot.

The judge doubled Rodas' bond to $100,000.

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