Charges filed against one accused in Walmart shooting

Criminal charges have been filed against one person police say was involved in a stealing attempt at Walmart that included a shot being fired inside the store.

Billy R. Littlefield, 22, was charged Thursday with first-degree robbery after police say he tried to walk out of the Walmart on South Campbell Avenue in Springfield without paying for some merchandise.

Littlefield has also been questioned about his possible involvement in a Nov. 27 attempted murder in the central California city of Los Banos.

According to a probable cause statement from the Walmart incident, an asset protection agent called police on the evening of Dec. 8 when he saw Billy Littlefield's brother Carl Littlefield, 20, conceal a flashlight and a small blowtorch in his sweatshirt pocket.

As the group was leaving the store, the statement says Carl Littlefield did not pay for the hidden items. Billy Littlefield and Peyton Garnica, 20, meanwhile, rang up only some of their items as they went through the self-checkout, according to the statement.

Police contacted the trio in the vestibule of the store, and the Littlefields ran back into the store, the statement says.

One of the officers tackled Billy Littlefield in the self-checkout area, and Billy Littlefield yelled "Shoot this fool" as he was trying to pull away, according to the statement.

Carl Littlefield continued running through the store and at some point fired a shot, according to the statement.

No one was hit by the bullet, but the incident prompted the evacuation of the store.

Carl Littlefield was not located the day of the incident, but authorities say he was arrested earlier this week in California after leading state troopers on a chase in a stolen vehicle.

Billy Littlefield and Garnica were released from the Greene County Jail three days after the Walmart incident when police in California police said they would not extradite the suspects.

A warrant has now been issued for Billy Littlefield's arrest in Greene County.

As of Thursday evening, Garnica and Carl Littlefield had not been formally charged with any crimes in Greene County.