FAYETTEVILLE - A man caught shoplifting in a Walmart begins stabbing himself in front of security guards and police, eventually leading to his death.
It happened just before 5 p.m. Wednesday at the Walmart on Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. in Fayetteville. David Thomas McElyea, 52, was allegedly caught shoplifting by loss prevention officers, also referred to as security guards. The officers followed normal procedure by detaining McElyea in a back room and calling police.
"Upon their arrival the subject in question began stabbing himself and cutting his neck area," said Sgt. Bill Phelan. "The officers were able to subdue the individual and take him into custody and get central EMS there for medical response."
Thomas was later pronounced dead at the hospital. The weapon used was a knife, but police aren't sure where he got it. They also aren't sure what he was trying to shoplift. However, they say the whole store was in jeopardy. "Anytime somebody has a weapon and is willing to hurt himself it puts other people in danger."
Walmart said they have no comment at this time and are referring all questions to the police. McElyea's body was sent to the state crime lab for an autopsy.
This is the second time he's been involved in a criminally related incident at Walmart. In 2003 he was arrested at another Washington County store for stealing two water filter systems and a bottle of lotion. According to the police report, he struck a security guard on the way out the door. Before that he had six felony convictions from Carroll and Washington Counties. Most of those were drug related.
McElyea is also known as an author. In 2003 a book about his life was published. It's titled, "When Money Grew on Trees." It focuses on his time growing marijuana with former Madison County Sheriff Ralph Baker. He wrote part of that book while living in West Fork, which is his last known address.
It happened just before 5 p.m. Wednesday at the Walmart on Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. in Fayetteville. David Thomas McElyea, 52, was allegedly caught shoplifting by loss prevention officers, also referred to as security guards. The officers followed normal procedure by detaining McElyea in a back room and calling police.
"Upon their arrival the subject in question began stabbing himself and cutting his neck area," said Sgt. Bill Phelan. "The officers were able to subdue the individual and take him into custody and get central EMS there for medical response."
Thomas was later pronounced dead at the hospital. The weapon used was a knife, but police aren't sure where he got it. They also aren't sure what he was trying to shoplift. However, they say the whole store was in jeopardy. "Anytime somebody has a weapon and is willing to hurt himself it puts other people in danger."
Walmart said they have no comment at this time and are referring all questions to the police. McElyea's body was sent to the state crime lab for an autopsy.
This is the second time he's been involved in a criminally related incident at Walmart. In 2003 he was arrested at another Washington County store for stealing two water filter systems and a bottle of lotion. According to the police report, he struck a security guard on the way out the door. Before that he had six felony convictions from Carroll and Washington Counties. Most of those were drug related.
McElyea is also known as an author. In 2003 a book about his life was published. It's titled, "When Money Grew on Trees." It focuses on his time growing marijuana with former Madison County Sheriff Ralph Baker. He wrote part of that book while living in West Fork, which is his last known address.
