CANTON, Miss. (WJTV) — A Canton man is recovering at the hospital after being shot by a security officer, police said.
Authorities tell us that 27-year-old Billy James Montgomery works as a security guard at the Fred’s Dollar Store in Canton.
He’s accused of shooting a 44-year-old Alvin Garner on April 18.
Canton Police tell WJTV that Garner was allegedly stealing candy from the store. When the manager alerted the security guard, he approached Garner, and they got into a fight.
We’re told that Garner ran outside the store, and the security officer allegedly followed him and opened fire.
“He drew his weapon and gave chase to Mr. Garner outside of the store,” Canton Police Chief Otha Brown. “When he got outside the store, he fired several shots, hitting Mr. Garner one time in the right thigh. A passerby was coming by. He got them to take him to the hospital.”
Chief Brown said the bullet hit a main artery in Garner’s leg. Montgomery is being held in jail on no bond for an aggravated assault charge.
