Hospitalized Bystander Demands Justice After Target Shooting
Police release new footage of a suspect who stole goods, assaulted staff, and fired a single shot at a customer in Northeast Washington.
By Salma Farouk ·
Rodney Lyde is speaking from his hospital bed about the bullet that hit him inside a Target store in Northeast Washington. He has spent more than 40 days recovering from injuries sustained in a shooting that occurred on September 24.
The incident took place near the front entrance of the store on the 1500 block of New York Avenue Northeast. Police say a suspect stole iPads, headphones, and clothing before attempting to leave. Two store employees, including an armed special police officer, confronted him at the door.
A physical struggle broke out between the suspect and the workers. Police report that the suspect assaulted the employees and used pepper spray on them. He then grabbed the officer's service weapon and fired one round. The bullet struck Lyde, who was standing nearby. The officer recovered the firearm, and the suspect fled the scene on a scooter.
Both Lyde and the officer were transported to a local hospital for treatment. The second employee was unharmed. Lyde has retained legal representation from the law firm Jackson and Associates. He is scheduled to be released from the hospital on Friday.
Police have released new surveillance video showing the suspect. In the footage, he walks a scooter around the store while wearing eyeglasses, a backpack, and an orange-and-black jacket with reflective stripes. The jacket resembles the uniform of a crossing guard.
Lyde expressed anxiety about his recovery during an interview. "I’ve been dealing with a lot of anxiety; thoughts of recovery and things have been kind of rough. Just trying to get back on my feet," he said. He hopes to eventually return to his job as a bus driver.
Lyde urged the suspect to come forward. "I want them to come forward and let them know that the individual that did this heinous crime towards me," he said. He added, "They say, if you do the crime, you gotta do the time. That’s it." A reward of up to $10,000 is being offered for information leading to an arrest and indictment.
