Two security guards at a shopping mall in St. Petersburg are under investigation for manslaughter in connection with the death of a suspected shoplifter. The incident occurred when they restrained the individual on the ground for several minutes, during which he expressed that he was unable to breathe.
According to local reports, the alleged shoplifter, a 24-year-old named Dmitry, was held down by the guards at a Perekryostok supermarket on Wednesday evening.
Bystander videos documented the tragic event, capturing Dmitry crying out for help and indicating that he could not breathe.
Surveillance footage from the Perekryostok store, situated in City Mall in northern St. Petersburg, revealed that he had sprayed pepper spray at the security staff attempting to apprehend him before he was subdued.
On Friday, the St. Petersburg branch of the Investigative Committee, which is the main investigative authority in Russia, announced that the security personnel involved in the incident are being investigated for manslaughter, as an autopsy confirmed that the cause of death was asphyxiation.
The investigative body stated that formal charges will be filed soon, though it did not specify how many guards were taken into custody during the inquiry.
The news source Fontanka indicated that two security guards, aged 64 and 19, had been arrested. Furthermore, an 18-year-old cleaning staff member from a fast-food outlet in City Mall was reported to have been questioned, though it remains uncertain whether he will face any charges.
Fontanka also revealed that surveillance footage indicated a third security guard, aged 32, escaping the mall through a staff exit prior to police arrival on Wednesday. It is believed this individual played a role in pinning down the suspected shoplifter.
In light of the incident, St. Petersburg police have reportedly commenced unexpected inspections of all Perekryostok supermarkets in the city, leading to the discovery of numerous immigration violations at a warehouse belonging to its parent company, X5 Group.
