An employee at an Anchorage Costco was able to subdue an armed man in the store on Wednesday.
Anchorage police were dispatched to the Debarr Road Costco at 12:38 p.m. after receiving reports of a customer with a gun, according to a statement from police.
Thomas Schultz Jr, 29, was allegedly attempting to steal store merchandise by hiding it in a box in the Debarr Road Costco when he was confronted by an employee. Schultz attempted to run away but was stopped by another employee and a “scuffle ensued,” police wrote.
Schultz reportedly pulled a gun out and struck one of the employee’s in the head. That employee managed to take the gun away from Schultz. They and other employees surrounded Schultz until police could arrive and take him into custody.
One staff member said employees are trained to handle such circumstances.
The employee Schultz hit suffered a “minor abrasion,” while Schultz reportedly got a “bump on the head” during the scuffle with employees, police said.
Schultz has been charged with third-degree theft, third-degree assault and third-degree misconduct involving a weapon, all of which are felony charges. He was taken to the Anchorage Correctional Complex to be held on a bail of $10,000 cash corporate and $2,500 cash only.
A male and a female who were with Schultz before the initial confrontation fled the scene. Their identities are unknown at this time, according to police.
