A man was shot to death after a Walgreens security guard suspected him of shoplifting Sunday night.

Alexander Mitchell, 39, was shot multiple times outside Walgreens drug store, 3522 W. Wisconsin Ave., at approximately 11:35 p.m. The suspect in custody is a 53-year-old store security guard whose name is yet to be released by the Milwaukee Police Department. Homicide charges are pending, according to Anne Schwartz, public relations manager for MPD.

Marquette's Department of Public Safety patrols as far west as North 24th Street.

Schwartz said the guard thought Mitchell stole a pair of sunglasses, so he followed him out of the store. Mitchell punched the guard in the face. The guard took out a personally-owned handgun and shot Mitchell several times, according to Tim McMurtry, chief of staff for Ald. Willie L. Hines Jr. of the 15th district.

Schwartz said Mitchell died at the scene.

There is controversy over whether the guard should have been carrying a handgun in the first place, but the security company could not be reached for comment.

Hines, alderman for the district where the Walgreens is located, said: "First we need to learn all we can from this incident and gather all the data, and then we can determine if we should legislate whether guards should be able to carry guns."

Hines said it is still too early to make any decisions.

This article appeared in The Marquette Tribune on April 19 2005.