Nine Years Later: Remembering John Crawford III, Victim of Beavercreek Walmart Shooting

Accident – Death – Obituary News : BEAVERCREEK — A shooting incident occurred at the Beavercreek Walmart on Monday, marking a grim reminder of a high-profile, police-involved shooting that took place at the same store over nine years ago.

The previous incident involved the tragic death of John Crawford III, who was shot and killed by Beavercreek police on August 5, 2014. The police were initially called to the store following a 911 call reporting a man, later identified as Crawford, carrying a rifle and allegedly pointing it at women and children.

However, it was later revealed that the reported rifle was, in fact, a pellet gun taken from an opened box on a store shelf. Store surveillance cameras failed to capture any evidence of Crawford pointing the weapon at anyone.

The cameras did capture the moment when two Beavercreek police officers approached Crawford, who was talking on his cell phone. Without delay, Officer Sean Williams fired his weapon after the officers announced themselves. The incident raised questions about the officers’ use of force and sparked public outcry.

In 2020, the City of Beavercreek settled a wrongful death lawsuit filed by Crawford’s family and estate, paying them a sum of $1.7 million. The settlement aimed to provide some form of justice and closure to the grieving family.

Unfortunately, the Beavercreek Walmart has experienced other incidents over the years. Just earlier this month, on November 6, the store had to close temporarily due to a fire that broke out inside. Two juveniles were later identified as suspects in the arson, and one of them, a 15-year-old boy, was arrested and charged with aggravated arson, vandalism, and inducing panic.

Thankfully, no injuries were reported, and the fire was extinguished by firefighters. The store near the Mall at Fairfield Commons reopened on November 8.

This is not the first time the Beavercreek Walmart has faced fire-related issues. In March 2018, a fire broke out on the store’s roof, specifically in the solar panels. The incident led to the evacuation of Walmart and nearby stores, but only Walmart was affected by the fire. The retail giant subsequently filed a lawsuit against Tesla in 2019, alleging “gross negligence” and blaming the company for multiple rooftop fires that caused significant damage.

The recent shooting incident and the subsequent fire have once again brought attention to the Beavercreek Walmart and its history of unfortunate incidents. The store continues to be a focal point of concern and scrutiny, with the community hoping for improved safety measures and better incident prevention in the future.

Overall, the Beavercreek Walmart has been marred by tragic events and recurring incidents, underscoring the need for continued vigilance and security measures to ensure the safety of both customers and employees. Authorities and stakeholders must work together to address these issues and create a safer environment for everyone involved..