A Walmart employee who ran to the aid of an assault victim in the store's parking lot was fired for a "violation of company policy," ABC 7 reported.
Kristopher Oswald, 30, of Michigan was spending a work break in his car when he heard a woman scream around 2:30 a.m. After he got out of his vehicle to make sure it wasn't harmless joking, the assailant began to attack him and said "I'm going to kill you."
He was able to tackle the man but two other assailants quickly appeared from behind. Not much longer after the incident, police officers from Livingston County arrived and took care of the attack.
Oswald said he was shocked at the way his employer handled the situation after receiving termination papers stating "after a violation of company policy on his lunch break, it was determined to end his temporary assignment."
Since he was a recent hire and only worked for seven weeks, he wouldn't be considered permanent until a 180-day period.
"I don't even know what to put on an application about all of this. How do I say this ended?"
Oswald explained that while Walmart has policies that prevent employees from tackling shoplifters or an attacker in the store, there is no rule against exercising self-defense or running to help the vicim of an assault.
"We had to make a tough decision, one that we don't take lightly, and he's no longer with the company," company spokeswoman Ashley Hardie said.
When he was asked if he would have acted in the same manner now that he's aware of Walmart's decision, he said he "will always do the right thing."
