Mitarius Boyd, a Walgreen employee who shot a pregnant woman, Travonsha Ferguson, claims that he fired his semi-automatic in self-defense. Ferguson was shot by Boyd in Nashville, Tennessee, this week after suspected she had stolen cosmetics from his pharmacy, police said. She was seven months pregnant.
Now, Ferguson and her newborn baby remain hospitalized after undergoing an emergency cesarean section. She sustained multiple gunshot wounds. Reportedly, the baby was not harmed, and both mother and child are in stable condition.
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Who is Mitarius Boyd?
Mitarius Boyd is a team leader at Walgreen in Nashville Tennessee. He is 21 years old. He shot Furguson in the store parking lot around 8 pm on Wednesday, April 12. Boyd said “he was in fear” and wasn’t aware if Ferguson and another woman she was with were armed, police said.
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According to police, another staff member told Boyd two women were allegedly shoplifting cosmetics from the store. He started recording the women on his mobile phone as they put items in a shopping cart and a large shoulder bag. Later, he followed the women into the car in the parking as they started placing items into the car’s trunk.
Police said, as Boyd approached the rear of the car, one of the women pulled out a can of Mace and sprayed as Boyd started shooting. The other woman took Ferguson to the hospital and then disappeared.
Once the investigation is complete the Nashville District Attorney will decide whether Boyd will face any charges.
According to court records, Boyd was charged with disorderly conduct after refusing to leave a Best Buy store over a Play Station 5 dispute in October 2022. Employees told Boyd the Play Station 5 was out of stock, but he refused to leave. The charge was later dismissed.
Boyd was cooperating with the investigation and his gun and cell phone were seized, Nashville police said.
