If you read past cases in many states involving hatchets you will see the charges were for a deadly weapon, while the news talked to a police spokesman he said the suspect is facing assault one and rob one charges. If you look up Washington robbery and assault laws you will see it is defined as a deadly weapon in rob 1 and assault 1. Every state defines a deadly weapon and a dangerous weapon in their own words. Some states define a gun loaded or not as a dangerous weapon as some say it's a deadly weapon. Any way you look at it the crime he will be charged with would be the same whether you want to define it as a deadly or dangerous weapon, he put another persons life at risk over a petty shoplift and that's just a shame.

As a former loss prevention specialist for Fred Meyers I hope the Lps makes a full recovery. As I sat here and read all the comments I can't believe how stupid some people are. The lack of knowledge of the job and laws of some people make you look stupid. This employee was just trying to do his job within the policies the company has set. Have done the job myself I have seen many lps get hurt over stupid shoplifters, whether it was getting punched or even hit by cars. They may not get paid very much but they go to work everyday so they can work and have a job, and I guarantee everyday they are there and they go out on a shoplift they have one thing on there mind "I want to go home safe tonight." once again I hope the Lps makes a full and speedy recovery.

Once the guy pulled the hatchet out deadly force would have been acceptable cause he would have been protecting his life not the property

Maybe you should re read what you posted cause im pretty sure a HATCHET is "presently capable of causing death or serious physical injury" almost anything can be used as a deadly weapon.

He stopped the suspect outside the store nowhere near the hatchet and you can never always know what potential weapons someone has concealed.