Anthony Kyser (pictured above left) of Chicago walked out of a CVS store on Saturday, holding toothpaste that didn't belong to him. He never expected that this toothpaste would cost him his life.
A CVS store employee saw Kyser and chased him out of the store and in to the alley. He caught up with Kyser and put him in to a choke hold. "I can't breathe, I can't breathe!" were the words coming out of Kyser's mouth, as he was being restrained by the employee. Three other men were attempting to control Kyser as well, according to witnesses. That is when he died.
The medical examiner ruled Kyser's death a homicide, citing that the autopsy showed he was strangled. The police, however, are saying that the employee who killed him won't be charged. The death is being treated as "accidental," according to Chicago Police Spokesman Daniel O'Brien.
Kyser's family is outraged by the decision.
"Why would you kill someone over toothpaste?" said Kyser's ex-wife, Ann Balboa (pictured above right). "Why would you even chase them, and how is this not murder -- it doesn't make sense."
According to family members, Kyser has served prison time on drug convictions and has had a drug problem for some time. They do not, however, believe that what he did should have cost him his life. The family wants a full investigation in to claims made by two witnesses that an off-duty Chicago police officer was at the scene and had her weapon drawn on Kyser before he died. The police are saying that no officer was present at the time.
According to witnesses, the officer pointed her weapon, announced herself and told Kyser to stop resisting the CVS employee and the other men who were holding him down. When he would not stop, she went in to her car and made a phone call. Chicago Police Spokesman John Mirabelli said that Kyser was unconscious when officers arrived at the scene. Police Lt. Maureen Biggane said, "We have no indication of CPD involvement."
Kyser was declared dead 45 minutes later at Mount Sinai Hospital.
When it comes to the death of Anthony Kyser, the bottom line is this: There needs to be a deeper and more serious investigation in to whether Chicago police were involved in this incident. The words of community witnesses should be taken as seriously as those of the police. Also, the public should get a clear understanding, regarding why the CVS employee is not being charged for a death that was ruled a homicide by the medical examiner.
While many of us do not condone resisting arrest or shoplifting, we can all agree that there should not be a death sentence for stealing toothpaste. The family deserves both compensation and an explanation about what happened in this case.
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Well, hell why not just let hime go! Its just toothpaste,its just a wallet,its just a car its just money,its just someones tools. The toothpaste nor the employees caused his death. HE caused his death by putting his grubby hands on something that was not his to touch and trying to get away or fight. You were not there so shut the f up. There should be no compensation for the man who died the parents should give an appology to the store and the employees for their rotton drug addicted theif convict son.
At the very least the CVS employee should be charged. I'm sure there's nothing in the company directives that encourages STORE employees to run after & confront shoplifters.
Is stealing wrong, of course. But unless this employee is some kind of auxillary police officer or cherub of justice, he should've kept his grubby hands to himself as well!
you are a real piece of work! All those material things are of little consequence when it comes to a human life. All those things can be replaced. I've had many things stolen from me and never did I wish death upon the thief. Perhaps you need to look within your self to try to find where all this anger and hatred is coming from. You at least need to seek some serious counseling.
your a jackass.. he caused his own death? he put himself in a choke hold?!
store employees are taught not to approach or chase suspected thieves. They are suppose to call the police or security.
he had no business assaulting this man over some damn toothpaste - a choke hold none the less. he should be charged and the others that intervened as well.
stealing is not right but when does it become a okay for a store clerk to use a wrestling moves on someone and your not a trained professional wrestler or law enforcement.
I just read an article where employees were fired for chasing a thief that was shoplifting from another store.
you are obviously a white guy on black voices posing as a black person..or very demented. It would very interesting to hear your interpretation on the war that america is involved in. it would be a good litmus test on your sanity or hypocrisy.
Excuse me, but why in the hell would anyone put a choke hold on a man for a tube of toothpaste and keep him in it till he dies? He was wrong to steal. I do not condone it in anyway, however, the medical examiner is the only qualified authority to determine what is murder and what is not. He says that it is and that settles it. If the man said he was unable to breathe and the dumb*** attendant refused to release his hold on the man's neck, then he did not feel there was any need to stop choking him. That is murder!!! Why was it necessary to kill the man? Why the hero tactics over a tube of toothpaste? Why is the police not charging the store attendant?
I read a story this morning about a man killed over shoplifting toothpaste and crayons. This happened in the Chicago area. A CVS manager put the perpetrator in a choke hold that killed him. The man told the manager he could not breathe and continued with the choke hold. Once police arrived one man laid dead as a result of a choke hold and another congratulated for protecting the merchandise; toothpaste and crayons.
CVS has taken no action against the manager he continues his employment with CVS. It's business as usual. Please understand I am not condoning stealing but he could have stolen booze cigarettes OTC drugs. He stole toothpaste and crayons. He was murdered by an over zealous employee taking the law into his own hands. Toothpaste and crayons, are you serious? If the person had been a white this would not result in death and by chance it did the cops definitely would have arrested the manager. I read a storey about some white teen girls in CA conducting a "bling ring" operation stealing from several celebrities items like jewelry, clothing etc. This girl received 6 months in the county jail. She stole thousands of dollars worth of merchandise from Orlando Bloom, Lynsey Lohan and Paris Hilton just to name a few. SHE was not alone others are involved. 6 months in jail, give me a break. It appears an african american life is not worth that of a causcasian, that blatantly obvious.
This is what I will do starting now I will NEVER shop in a CVS store for anything, period. IF people really care what our country is becoming they will do likewise. This is NOT for the suspect this is the injustice of the police and CVS on it's handling of the situation. There are other drugstores in YOUR area. CVS has a big competitor, you know the name. Shop there instead I bet CVS will get the message that this is not the wild, wild west. Stealing toothpaste is wrong but to take someone's life for an item worth a few bucks is insane.
This has nothing to do with black or white, it has to do with stealing, taking what does not belong to you. If he had not fought back he would be alive today, maybe going back to jail but he would be alive. Don't blame this on anyone except Kyser, he was the one breaking the law.
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Comments: (116)
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By: rbrossrocks@aol.com on 5/11/2010 8:23AM
Well, hell why not just let hime go! Its just toothpaste,its just a wallet,its just a car its just money,its just someones tools. The toothpaste nor the employees caused his death. HE caused his death by putting his grubby hands on something that was not his to touch and trying to get away or fight. You were not there so shut the f up. There should be no compensation for the man who died the parents should give an appology to the store and the employees for their rotton drug addicted theif convict son.
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By: carla ford on 5/11/2010 8:41AM
rbrossrocks
At the very least the CVS employee should be charged. I'm sure there's nothing in the company directives that encourages STORE employees to run after & confront shoplifters.
Is stealing wrong, of course. But unless this employee is some kind of auxillary police officer or cherub of justice, he should've kept his grubby hands to himself as well!
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By: Toy on 5/12/2010 1:07PM
you are a real piece of work! All those material things are of little consequence when it comes to a human life. All those things can be replaced. I've had many things stolen from me and never did I wish death upon the thief. Perhaps you need to look within your self to try to find where all this anger and hatred is coming from. You at least need to seek some serious counseling.
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By: W on 5/12/2010 2:30PM
God has got something really nice in store for you. Just wait
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By: dvine on 5/12/2010 3:24PM
your a jackass.. he caused his own death? he put himself in a choke hold?!
store employees are taught not to approach or chase suspected thieves. They are suppose to call the police or security.
he had no business assaulting this man over some damn toothpaste - a choke hold none the less. he should be charged and the others that intervened as well.
stealing is not right but when does it become a okay for a store clerk to use a wrestling moves on someone and your not a trained professional wrestler or law enforcement.
I just read an article where employees were fired for chasing a thief that was shoplifting from another store.
Report This
By: renew200 on 5/14/2010 6:27PM
you are obviously a white guy on black voices posing as a black person..or very demented. It would very interesting to hear your interpretation on the war that america is involved in. it would be a good litmus test on your sanity or hypocrisy.
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By: No1'sname on 5/18/2010 7:09PM
rbrossrocks you sound like a meth-head with that comment so next time when you comment keep the meth pipe out of reach!
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By: Ann on 5/12/2010 8:51AM
Excuse me, but why in the hell would anyone put a choke hold on a man for a tube of toothpaste and keep him in it till he dies?
He was wrong to steal. I do not condone it in anyway, however, the medical examiner is the only qualified authority to determine what is murder and what is not. He says that it is and that settles it.
If the man said he was unable to breathe and the dumb*** attendant refused to release his hold on the man's neck, then he did not feel there was any need to stop choking him.
That is murder!!!
Why was it necessary to kill the man?
Why the hero tactics over a tube of toothpaste?
Why is the police not charging the store attendant?
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By: For What on 5/11/2010 10:54AM
I posted this comment on a blog in my hometown.
I read a story this morning about a man killed over shoplifting toothpaste and crayons. This happened in the Chicago area. A CVS manager put the perpetrator in a choke hold that killed him. The man told the manager he could not breathe and continued with the choke hold. Once police arrived one man laid dead as a result of a choke hold and another congratulated for protecting the merchandise; toothpaste and crayons.
CVS has taken no action against the manager he continues his employment with CVS. It's business as usual. Please understand I am not condoning stealing but he could have stolen booze cigarettes OTC drugs. He stole toothpaste and crayons. He was murdered by an over zealous employee taking the law into his own hands. Toothpaste and crayons, are you serious? If the person had been a white this would not result in death and by chance it did the cops definitely would have arrested the manager. I read a storey about some white teen girls in CA conducting a "bling ring" operation stealing from several celebrities items like jewelry, clothing etc. This girl received 6 months in the county jail. She stole thousands of dollars worth of merchandise from Orlando Bloom, Lynsey Lohan and Paris Hilton just to name a few. SHE was not alone others are involved. 6 months in jail, give me a break. It appears an african american life is not worth that of a causcasian, that blatantly obvious.
This is what I will do starting now I will NEVER shop in a CVS store for anything, period. IF people really care what our country is becoming they will do likewise. This is NOT for the suspect this is the injustice of the police and CVS on it's handling of the situation. There are other drugstores in YOUR area. CVS has a big competitor, you know the name. Shop there instead I bet CVS will get the message that this is not the wild, wild west. Stealing toothpaste is wrong but to take someone's life for an item worth a few bucks is insane.
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By: tanisha on 5/11/2010 12:33PM
This has nothing to do with black or white, it has to do with stealing, taking what does not belong to you. If he had not fought back he would be alive today, maybe going back to jail but he would be alive. Don't blame this on anyone except Kyser, he was the one breaking the law.
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