Man Convicted for Shooting Dollar General Worker, Raises Safety Questions

A Lake County jury on December 11, 2025 convicted Kaleb S. Brown, 23, of Lake Villa of aggravated battery by discharge of a firearm for the shooting of a young Dollar General employee during an incident on February 4, 2022 at the Dollar General on Grand Avenue in Waukegan. Prosecutors said the employee tried to stop a shoplifting suspect from reentering the store. The suspect went outside, produced a firearm and shot the worker near his eye.

The victim, then 19 years old, survived the attack and underwent multiple surgeries. Court filings and trial testimony established that he has been recovering since the shooting. Brown was arrested in July 2022 and faced a jury trial that began on December 1, 2025. He remains in custody pending sentencing and further court proceedings scheduled for January 26, 2026.

Prosecutors summarized the case for jurors and described the victim as a frontline worker who was performing his job when he was shot. Prosecutors said, "A hard working young man was trying to do his job, and the defendant shot him in the face for it." The conviction carries a sentencing range of six to 30 years in prison under state law for aggravated battery by discharge of a firearm.

The case underscores ongoing concerns about the dangers retail employees face when confronting theft or theft suspects. Workers who try to stop shoplifting can be exposed to violent retaliation, and the incident has potential implications for how employers train and protect staff. For Dollar General employees, the shooting serves as a stark example of the risks that can accompany loss prevention efforts and customer interactions that turn violent.

Labor and safety advocates say high profile cases like this one can lead to calls for clearer corporate policies, better training on de escalation and reporting, and more support for injured workers. As the defendant awaits sentencing, the victim's recovery remains central to the human impact of the case, and the conviction is likely to inform conversations about worker safety in retail settings across the region.