An alleged shoplifter was confronted by an elderly woman who pulled out a handgun in an Arizona parking lot, turning the unsuspecting vigilante into an internet sensation.
Footage uploaded to X on Thursday showed the woman brandishing a firearm and walking down a man who appeared to be running off with several purses.
The confrontation has raked in over half a million views on one upload alone and received hundreds of comments applauding the gunwoman, while many criticized her for the potentially dangerous stunt.
The alleged shoplifter was confronted by the elderly woman in the parking lot of a Tucson Ross in early August, according to KOLD.
Shockingly, the unidentified woman appeared to have no fear as she aimed her firearm at the alleged thief, who slowly walked out of the parking lot with several bags.
Tucson police could not locate the suspect but are investigating the incident as a shoplifting case and are using the footage as evidence.
Legal experts said the elderly vigilante’s actions could have landed her in hot water with the law.
‘It really depends on the details, but there is a statute that authorizes people to display or use a firearm to prevent certain crimes,’ Tucson criminal defense attorney Louis Fidel told KOLD.
An older grey-haired woman pulled a gun on an alleged shoplifter in the parking lot of a Tucson Ross in early August
The suspect could be seen carrying several bags and purses as he strolled out of the lot slowly
‘Shoplifting is not one of those crimes.’
Fidel added that aiming a weapon in this case could potentially lead to charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and is, of course, a danger that puts the public at risk.
However, most users online seemed to be fatigued by the constant uploads of thieves walking out of retail stores with bundles of stolen merchandise and praised the woman for her actions.
‘Good for her! We need more brave citizens like this,’ one person wrote on X.
‘You see that trigger discipline? She’s definitely shot somebody before, and she is not afraid to do so again. That’s one bada** granny,’ another added.
‘People are getting fed up with it over here,’ a third wrote. ‘The stores don’t do anything.
‘They call the cops. By the time the cops show up, the shoplifters are long gone. This has been happening over and over again, and grandma is f****** tired of it.’
But many were on the side of safety, labeling the stunt irresponsible, dangerous and extremely illegal.
The confrontation has raked in over half a million views on one upload alone and received hundreds of comments applauding the gunwoman, while many criticized her for the potentially dangerous stunt
Legal experts said the elderly vigilante’s actions could have landed her in hot water with the law and could have possibly faced an aggravated assault with a deadly weapon charge
‘Don’t draw a gun in public unless it’s a life-or-death situation!! Accidents can happen and it’s not worth the risk,’ said one user.
‘And YOU can be the one put behind bars if an accident does happen.’
‘Anyone trained in firearms knows that waving it around and threatening others with a gun is NOT acceptable,’ said another.
‘Deadly force is only used as a last alternative to protect yourself or others. One cannot pull it out to stop thieves.’
‘Why risk your freedom/life for a corporation that does not care about you? Doesn’t make any sense,’ a third wrote.
The Daily Mail has reached out to the Tucson Police Department for comment.
