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TAYLORSVILLE — A Taylorsville man who was apparently trying to help a local store is now facing criminal charges accusing him of shooting at a suspected shoplifter's vehicle.
Austin Rhenon Larson, 37, was charged Wednesday in 3rd District Court with two counts of illegal discharge of a firearm, a third-degree felony.
On Oct. 6, Larson was at the Family Dollar store, 1649 W. 4200 South, when he followed a woman suspected of shoplifting out of the store. The woman got into the passenger side of a car, and Larson fired two rounds at the vehicle as it drove away, according to charging documents.
"Larson said he aimed for the tire and that he successfully shot the tire before the Chrysler fled," the charges state.
Police, however, say even if the man's intention was to help, you can't shoot at a shoplifter who is not threatening anyone.
"You can use a firearm to protect yourself, but you can't use a firearm to protect property. He observed a crime being committed, but his life was not in jeopardy," said Taylorsville Police Lt. Aaron Cheshire.
Chesire said citizens can help police in similar situations simply by gathering information such as a license plate number and descriptions.
