Deputy fatally shoots Walmart shoplifting suspect

HOUSTON – A woman suspected of stealing merchandise from a Walmart store is fatally shot by a deputy after he was nearly run over, investigators say.

Harris County sheriff's deputies said the incident happened at the Walmart on West Road and the North Freeway at around 9:45 p.m. on Thursday.

According to investigators, the loss prevention team noticed several women taking merchandise off the shelves and stuffing it in to their purses and alerted an off-duty deputy.

The women paid for some smaller items and then tried to leave the store with the merchandise that was not paid for, officials said.

Deputy Louis Campbell, who was working an approved extra job, confronted the women at the door and one of the suspects hit him with her purse before fleeing to their car, deputies said.

Campbell caught up to the car that the women were in and told the woman who hit him to get out of the car, investigators said. She refused to get out of the car and the deputy opened the door, investigators said.

"When the vehicle took off, he was between the door frame and the driver," said Deputy Thomas Gilliland. " He discharged his weapon at that point."

According to investigators, the suspects kept driving and ended up about a mile away at The Worthington Apartment complex in the 1300 block of Greens Parkway, which is about a mile away from the Walmart.

The woman, identified as Shelly Marie Frey, died at apartment complex.

Shelly Frey

"They had her body out laying in the middle of the ground," witness Kesha Sapp said. "Her kids were like, 'mama, mama.' She had kids in the car, so they shouldn't be shooting in the car."

Detectives said three women and two children were inside the car.

Sapp said she was angry that a deputy would open fire on the women, even if they really did shoplift.

"They should have cameras at Walmart to see what happened," she said.

The other two women in the car have been charged. Detectives said the driver, Tiasa Andrews, 29, has been charged with robbery and aggravated assault of a public servant. Yolanda Craig, 38, has been charged with robbery.

Campbell has been with the Harris County Sheriff's Office for 26 years. He is assigned to the detentions bureau.