Woman who shot at fleeing shoplifters enters no-contest plea

ROCHESTER HILLS (AP) — A customer who shot at shoplifters fleeing a Detroit-area Home Depot parking lot has pleaded no contest to reckless discharge of a firearm.

Defense attorney Steven Lyle Schwartz says 46-year-old Tatiana Duva-Rodriguez made the plea Monday in Rochester Hills District Court.

A no-contest plea is not an admission of guilt but is treated as such for sentencing.

On Oct. 6, two men were driving away with stolen merchandise when, authorities say, Duva-Rodriguez fired her gun, flattening a tire on the shoplifters’ SUV.

Duva-Rodriguez of Clarkston was licensed to carry a concealed weapon.

The shoplifters were arrested a few days later and charged with retail fraud.

Duva-Rodriguez faces up to 90 days in jail. Schwartz says he hopes she only has to pay fines and court costs.