Circle K employee shot by woman accused of shoplifting in Surprise

PHOENIX — El Mirage police arrested a 23-year-old woman for allegedly shooting a Circle K employee on Friday.

Kiana Viola of El Mirage, 23, was located at a nearby trailer park where a 30-year-old employee of the Circle K was found shot in the chest, according to a press release.

Viola was seen by the employee shoplifting several items. The employee, a woman, then followed Viola to the trailer park on foot where Viola is suspected of shooting the victim.

Officers were able to obtain a visual of Viola through security cameras in the Circle K and then found her while she was attempting to exit the complex in the passenger seat of a vehicle.

Police said that Viola arrived at the Circle K as a passenger along with a male driver of a pickup truck.

They did not say if the male was involved in the shooting or if she was found in the same vehicle that she arrived in at the Circle K.

The victim was taken to a nearby hospital in serious but stable condition.

Officers were able to render first aid and applied a chest seal upon arrival.

Viola was booked on charges of attempted murder, assault with a firearm and endangerment.

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