J.C. Penney guard fired gun at shoplifting suspect in Va.

J.C. Penney Co. is investigating an incident involving a store security guard who fired a gun at a shoplifting suspect outside a mall in Roanoke.

J.C. Penney spokesman Tim Lyons says the retailer doesn't allow any store security personnel to carry guns.

Roanoke police also are investigating the Friday incident outside the Valley View Mall.

Lyons says the guard isn't working while J.C. Penney investigates the incident.

George Peyton with the Retail Merchants Association in Richmond says store guards aren't usually trained to carry weapons. And, Peyton says no one is ever trained that deadly force is used to stop a shoplifter.

-- The Roanoke Times