Store clerks report assault by shoplifter

Cape Girardeau police are looking for a man suspected of threatening one store clerk and punching another in a theft early Monday morning.

About 12:30 a.m. Monday, officers received a report of shoplifting at Wal-Mart, 3439 William St., said public information officer Darin Hickey of the Cape Girardeau Police Department.

Store personnel reported a man went to the electronics department and asked to buy a gaming system, which a store employee took to the front of the store for a clerk to ring up, Hickey said.

Instead of paying for the system, the man grabbed it and tried to run out a set of doors, found them locked and ran to another set of doors, where an employee was waiting for him, Hickey said.

"He did threaten to shoot [the employee] if he didn't get out of his way," he said.

The employee let the man pass, and he ran to his car, where another employee was waiting and tried to prevent him from getting into the vehicle, Hickey said.

The man punched the employee in the face and fled.

"We're trying to confirm the identity of any suspects," Hickey said Monday afternoon.

Pertinent address:

3439 William St., Cape Girardeau, Mo.