John Crawford III: A Tragic Connection Between Two Shootings at the Beavercreek Walmart

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Monday’s shooting at the Beavercreek Walmart has once again thrust the store into the spotlight, as it marks the latest incident in a series of unfortunate events. This tragedy comes just over nine years after the high-profile, police-involved shooting that occurred at the same location, leaving the community shaken.

The previous incident took place on August 5, 2014, when John Crawford III was shot and killed by Beavercreek police. It all began with a 911 call reporting a man, later identified as Crawford, walking around the store with what appeared to be a rifle, threatening women and children. However, it was later discovered that the weapon Crawford had was actually a pellet gun from an opened box on a store shelf. Surveillance footage failed to show any women or children near Crawford when he pointed the weapon.

The store’s surveillance cameras did capture the moment when two Beavercreek police officers approached Crawford as he was engrossed in a cell phone conversation. Officer Sean Williams fired his weapon almost immediately after announcing their presence. The incident sparked controversy and debate over the use of excessive force by the police.

In 2020, the City of Beavercreek settled a wrongful death lawsuit with the estate of John Crawford III, as well as his family, for a sum of $1.7 million. The settlement aimed to provide some form of justice and closure for the grieving family.

Unfortunately, the Beavercreek Walmart has experienced other incidents over the years, further adding to the store’s troubled history. Just earlier this month, on November 6, the store had to close due to a fire that broke out inside the building. Two juveniles were identified as suspects in the arson case, and on November 8, a 15-year-old boy was arrested and charged with aggravated arson, vandalism, and inducing panic. Thankfully, no one was injured, and firefighters were able to extinguish the flames.

This recent fire is not the first time the Beavercreek Walmart has dealt with such an incident. In March 2018, solar panels on the roof of the store caught fire, causing significant damage. The fire prompted the evacuation of Walmart and nearby stores, but the adjacent businesses were able to resume operations once it was determined that the fire was contained to Walmart alone. This incident led to Walmart filing a lawsuit against Tesla in 2019, accusing the company of “gross negligence” for the fires that occurred on seven store rooftops between 2012 and 2018, resulting in millions of dollars in damages.

The Beavercreek Walmart has unfortunately become synonymous with tragedy and misfortune. These incidents serve as a reminder of the challenges faced by this community and the need for increased safety measures and vigilance. It is our hope that steps will be taken to ensure the well-being and security of both customers and employees at this location, so that the community can begin to heal and move forward..