Walgreens employee stabs accused shoplifter fleeing store, California police say

A Walgreens employee stabbed an accused shoplifter in an altercation in the street outside the store, California police told news outlets.

The confrontation took place on Castro Street in San Francisco at about 4:30 a.m. Wednesday, March 19, police told SFGate.

A Walgreens employee and a security guard followed a 30-year-old man who left the store without paying for merchandise, police told KTVU.

A security video shows the employee return to the store twice, then emerge a third time to confront the accused shoplifter, the station said. A fight begins and the man falls to the pavement holding his face.

Someone flagged down police patrolling the area to report a stabbing, and officers called paramedics for the injured man, police told KRON.

Officers arrested Guang Hong, 45, on a charge of assault with a deadly weapon, police told KPIX. The other man faces charges of battery and petty theft.

“Walgreens is aware of the incident and cooperating with the police in their investigation,” the chain told McClatchy News in an email.

The accused shoplifter was reportedly stabbed in the eye, KTVU reported. His injuries were not life-threatening, police said.

San Francisco police did not immediately respond to a request for information on the incident.

This story was originally published March 20, 2025 at 11:38 AM with the headline "Walgreens employee stabs accused shoplifter fleeing store, California police say."