79-Year-Old Hialeah Walmart Shopper on Scooter Allegedly Brandished Gun at Employee

Pascual Santana, 79, is accused of opening his shirt to reveal a firearm while seated on a motorized scooter at a Walmart jewelry counter and telling a worker, "Are you scared now?" according to a probable cause affidavit. The incident, reported to have occurred about 10:50–11:00 a.m. on Nov. 16, 2025, took place at a Hialeah Walmart on NW 177th Street; sources describe the location as either the 5800 block of NW 177th Street or 5851 NW 177 St.

The affidavit says Santana approached the jewelry counter and "asked to see several different pieces of jewelry." The employee twice explained a store policy limiting customers to viewing one piece at a time, and the defendant "became upset because he felt that the victim was not providing good service to him," the affidavit states. It adds that Santana "started to speak aggressively" toward her and "began to call her derogatory names," and that he allegedly told the worker she "had a bad attitude and that she needed to fix it" before revealing the weapon.

The employee fled to get help from store security, according to arrest records reviewed in reporting. There are no reports that the firearm was fired or that anyone was physically injured. Surveillance footage is reported to show the encounter, though Santana has disputed that footage, apparently insisting the person seen threatening the worker was some other armed 79-year-old. He also ended an interview with deputies after a few minutes and asked for an attorney, records show.

Months after the alleged confrontation, deputies arrested Santana and charged him with one count of aggravated assault with a firearm, the language used in charging documents. He has pleaded not guilty, demanded a trial by jury, applied for and received indigent status, and was assigned a public defender. Court records list him held on a $5,000 bond; no trial dates were listed in those records at the time of reporting.

For Walmart frontline employees and managers, the episode underscores the vulnerabilities that can arise when enforcing routine store policies. Jewelry counters and other high-touch areas often require close customer engagement, and associates can face escalations from customers who resist limits intended to protect merchandise and staff. The affidavit account highlights how quickly a service disagreement can turn into a safety incident and the role store security plays when employees retreat to summon help.

As the criminal case proceeds, employers and labor advocates will be watching for any changes in store safety measures, security staffing, or employee training. Workers should be aware that incidents like this are typically documented in affidavits and arrest records, and that law enforcement and courts will determine criminal culpability. The case also reflects broader conversations about protecting retail associates who enforce company policies in high-pressure customer interactions.