Walgreens Employee Claims Self-Defense In Shooting Pregnant Woman

A seven-months pregnant woman underwent an emergency C-section after a Walgreens employee shot her after he suspected her of shoplifting, police said.

Travonsha Ferguson, 24, and her newborn were in critical but stable condition at a hospital as of Thursday, according to the Nashville Police Department; the baby was not injured by the gunfire. Police are now investigating Mitarius Boyd, 21, the Walgreens team leader, who said he followed her out to the store’s parking lot and then shot her in self-defense. 

According to a statement by police, Boyd said he began recording Ferguson after she and another woman allegedly placed store items into a cart, then into a large over-the-shoulder bag, and went to their car without paying.

Boyd then followed the women as they put the allegedly stolen items into their trunk, where one of the women pulled out a can of mace and began spraying it at him, according to police.

Boyd told police he pulled out his semi-automatic pistol and began shooting at the women, in fear that they were carrying a firearm. 

The two women left the scene, and Ferguson was dropped off at General Hospital with multiple gunshot wounds. She was then taken by ambulance to Vanderbilt University Medical Center.