A Colorado man who attempted to stop an alleged shoplifting suspect at a Walmart store has been relieved of his duties, despite being stabbed in the process.
John Zalesky, a former front-end associate at the Walmart store in the 16000 block of East Smoky Hill Road, said he confronted the suspect on August 11 after witnessing the alleged theft. He followed the individual outside the store, where he attempted to retrieve a purse containing the stolen goods.
However, Zalesky was met with violence when a man standing on the other side of the car stabbed him in the forearm. The man allegedly tried to stab Zalesky again before fleeing the scene in a silver Toyota sedan.
Zalesky, 68, said the incident left him shaken, but he would not hesitate to take action again if faced with a similar situation. “If I had the chance, I’d probably do it again,” he said.
Despite his bravery, Zalesky was informed that he was being terminated from his position, citing a “corporate decision.” The move has left Zalesky and his family struggling, prompting the establishment of a GoFundMe page to support them.
Walmart’s corporate headquarters has not commented on the incident, despite repeated attempts to contact them.
