Over $100,000 raised for Walmart security guard who is in coma after being struck by car

A security guard at a Quebec Walmart who was allegedly hit by an angry driver on Saturday in Sherbrooke is in a medically induced coma. Over $112,000 has now been raised for the victim.

Philippe Jean was struck by the car and hit the ground hard, say witnesses. The incident took place at the entrance of the store and Jean was reportedly dragged for a few meters before being transported to the hospital in critical condition, according to CTV News.

The man in the car was 25-year-old Nacime Kouddar. Kouddar was angry about a rule the store had implemented stating that only one person per car can enter at a time. The Montrealer is now facing three charges including hit and run, assault with a vehicle and armed assault.

Kouddar will be back in court in Sherbrooke on Monday.

Since the incident, a fundraiser has accumulated to over $112,000 for Jean who has five children. The 35-year-old works for a company called TITAN Security. The company’s vice president noted that he was shocked by the incident.

“It’s hard to believe that in such circumstances someone would lose it like the suspect has been accused of,” said Juneau-Katsuya.

“You’re left shaking your head and saying, ‘It defeats any sense of logic that I have.’ It’s like seriously? He was not prevented from going in. The only thing that he was prevented was to go in as a pair.”

Juneau-Katsuya noted that the ‘one person per car’ rule was implemented at that Walmart because the surrounding community is full of families who often shop in groups.

Premier Francois Legault called the incident “unacceptable.”

“Unfortunately, we have a few crazy people in our society,” said Legault. “I haven’t heard that it’s happening much in Quebec. Of course it’s unacceptable what happened in Sherbrooke.”

On Monday, Deputy Premier Genevieve Guilbault showed her support.

In a tweet she said, “In these difficult times, the men and women who keep us safe are also at the front and vulnerable. I appeal for calm to all Quebecers. Let us be united and follow the instructions.”

The security company—TITAN—has more than 200 guards throughout Quebec. Guards have been instructed to call the police if a similar situation comes up.

“We know that we are in a period of tension for the entire society, so occasionally there is a verbal interaction with people that are not happy with the situation because they have to wait or something like this, but the guards have been trained,” Juneau-Katsuya said.

“They must understand that they have a job to do, that’s what they’re paid for. They need to assist our clients to keep law and order as much as possible, but, at the end of the day they are not the police.”

“They need to be very patient and be very professional as their training has taught them and bring the people as much as possible to understand that cooperation will make it easier for everybody.”