A tough break: Security guard shot and dismissed
Being a hero isn’t all it’s cracked up to be, is it? Brad Scurry, the security officer with nerves of steel, found this out the hard way. One fine day while he was gallantly minding the store at an Alabama Walmart, he and a colleague had the unfortunate job of confronting a shoplifter. But hey, this wasn’t just any petty thief; it was Tyler Cortez Johnson, who apparently thought packing heat was a suitable fashion choice for the season.
As Scurry approached, Johnson decided the best way out was through – literally. He pulled out a gun and started spraying bullets, hitting Scurry in the arm and chest. What a standup guy!
Our brave security guard was rushed to Grady Memorial Hospital, where doctors furiously worked to patch him up. After successful emergency surgery, they managed to save him from the brink and set him on a long road to recovery.
But that wasn’t the end of the tale. As soon as Scurry was on his feet, willing and able to get back to work, Walmart greeted him with a warm “Thanks, but no thanks.” He got a write-up for apparently not following some obscure company policy during the altercation with the armed lunatic.
Talk about appreciation! Scurry brushed it off, thinking it could only get better from here. Spoiler alert: it didn’t.
Not long after his return, Scurry stepped forward to quiet down a protester causing chaos outside the store. And by “quiet down,” I mean he told them to zip it. Bad move, Scurry. His supervisors were less than thrilled with his choice of words and promptly gave him the boot.
Scurry found himself unemployed and filing for unemployment benefits. The universe showed him some tough love – Walmart contested his claim, leaving him high and dry.
While his medical bills were taken care of and he received $17,000 for lost wages, the total tab still left him jobless, benefits-less, and on the brink of eviction. It’s like being handed a dry sponge when you’re drowning.
Meanwhile, the star of our support-and-gratitude story, Tyler Cortez Johnson, was later captured after yet another Walmart employee decided not to let things slide. Facing the music, he was charged with aggravated assault and brandishing an illegal firearm. Bonds all around but no Oscars here.
Sure, Scurry got some pats on the back from the public and emerged a living symbol of bravery. But what does public heroic acclaim buy you when your employer sees you as disposable? It’s baffling which policy Walmart thought Scurry violated. Also, anyone curious if his coworker got a stern talking-to or was this just a special gift for Scurry?
Now, out on the metaphorical streets, Scurry is trying to count his blessings. Sure, he dodged a die-hard scene in Walmart and lived to tell the tale. But that doesn’t pay the mounting bills or erase the constant fear of homelessness gnawing at him.
Maybe someone will take notice of Scurry’s valiant efforts and offer him a job more deserving of his loyalty. Lesser men might have run away; Scurry took a bullet for Walmart. The least he deserves is an employer who won’t fire him for basically surviving!
Karen’s Opinion
Never thought I’d see the day when taking a bullet for your workplace would land you in the unemployment line, but here we are. Walmart, you owe this guy more than pocket change and a stack of medical bills paid off. A little humanity wouldn’t hurt, would it? Scurry might need to slow down, but shouldn’t he have the choice to do so? Here’s hoping the next employer sees the undeniable value Scurry brings. Because the least bit of loyalty deserves some recognition in this cut-throat corporate world. Walmart, you missed a big opportunity on this one.
