Two Arrested After McGowan Park Theft Call as Employees Say Handgun Was Displayed

MOBILE, Ala. — A McGowan Park theft call at a sporting goods store turned into a robbery case on Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2026, after employees told Mobile police that a man they confronted about hiding merchandise pulled out a handgun. Officers detained two men at the scene, and one of them now faces a first-degree robbery charge.

The incident happened at the Dick’s Sporting Goods store in the McGowan Park shopping center, and the two men’s cases now head into the Mobile County court system.

The two men charged

The Mobile Police Department identified the men as Ashton Coleman-Matkin, 18, and Zackill Goff, 20. Their charges differ:

• Ashton Coleman-Matkin, 18: first-degree robbery
• Zackill Goff, 20: organized retail theft

Both men were detained by officers when police arrived at the store. As with anyone accused of a crime, both are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.

What employees told police

According to police, store employees reported that they confronted one of the two men because they believed he was concealing merchandise. During that confrontation, the employees said, the man displayed a handgun.

Police have not said what items were allegedly taken or concealed, what the merchandise was worth, or whether anything was recovered. The department also has not said whether the handgun was found.

Timeline

Officers were dispatched to the store shortly after 12:30 p.m. on Nov. 10 in response to a report of a retail theft. When they arrived, they detained the two men. As the investigation continued and officers spoke with employees, the account of a handgun being shown during the confrontation emerged, and the charges that followed reflect that allegation.

Why a shoplifting case can become a robbery case

The difference between the two men’s charges illustrates an important distinction in Alabama law. Theft, sometimes called shoplifting when it happens at a store, involves taking property without permission. Robbery is a more serious crime because it combines a theft with the use or threat of force.

In Alabama, a theft can be prosecuted as robbery when force is used or threatened during the theft itself or while the person is trying to get away. The degree of the robbery charge depends on the circumstances. First-degree robbery, the most serious level, generally applies when the person is armed with a deadly weapon or dangerous instrument, or causes serious physical injury. Showing a gun, or an object represented to be a gun, during a confrontation over stolen goods can be enough to support that charge.

First-degree robbery is a Class A felony in Alabama, the same felony class as attempted murder. A conviction for a Class A felony carries a potential sentence of 10 years to life in prison, and state law sets tougher minimum terms when a firearm or deadly weapon is used in the commission of a Class A felony.

What organized retail theft means

Goff’s charge, organized retail theft, is a separate offense in Alabama’s criminal code that lawmakers created to target coordinated thefts from stores, as opposed to a single person taking an item on impulse. Retail theft carried out by people working together, or theft of merchandise intended to be resold, has drawn growing attention from retailers and legislators across the country in recent years, and many states, including Alabama, have adopted laws specifically aimed at it.

Police have not described what role each man is alleged to have played, beyond the charges filed.

About McGowan Park

McGowan Park is a shopping center in Mobile that is home to a number of national retailers, restaurants and other businesses, and it draws shoppers from across the city and surrounding communities. Busy shopping centers like it tend to see heavy traffic during the midday hours, which is when this incident took place.

Store safety and employees

Incidents like this one highlight the risks retail workers can face when confronting suspected shoplifters. Many large retailers train employees not to physically chase or detain people suspected of theft, and instead to observe, keep a safe distance and contact police. Loss-prevention experts commonly point out that merchandise can be replaced, while a confrontation can quickly become dangerous if the other person is armed.

For shoppers, public safety officials generally advise the following if a confrontation or disturbance breaks out inside a store:

• Move away from the conflict. Put distance between yourself and anyone who is arguing or acting aggressively.
• Do not intervene. Leave detaining suspects to trained staff and police officers.
• Call 911 if a weapon is shown. Tell the dispatcher what you saw, where you are in the store and how many people are involved.
• Note descriptions if it is safe. Clothing, height, direction of travel and vehicle descriptions can help responding officers.
• Follow staff and police directions. Employees may move customers to a safer part of the store or to an exit.

How Alabama grades ordinary theft

For comparison, theft cases that do not involve force are graded in Alabama largely by the value of what was taken. Theft of property in the fourth degree covers property worth $500 or less and is a misdemeanor. Third-degree theft covers property valued at more than $500 up to $1,500, second-degree theft covers property valued at more than $1,500 up to $2,500, and first-degree theft applies to property worth more than $2,500. Some kinds of property, such as firearms and certain vehicles, can raise the degree of the charge regardless of value.

The introduction of a weapon changes that analysis entirely. Once police allege that a gun was displayed during a theft or an attempt to escape, the value of the merchandise no longer determines the seriousness of the charge, which is why one of the men in this case faces a felony at the top of the state’s classification system.

Detained versus arrested

Police said officers detained the two men when they arrived at the store. A detention is a temporary stop that allows officers to investigate a situation, ask questions and determine what happened. An arrest follows when officers determine that there is probable cause to believe a person committed a crime. In this case, the investigation at the scene, including information from store employees, led to the charges filed against both men.

What happens next in court

After an arrest in Mobile, adults are typically booked into Mobile County Metro Jail, which is operated by the Mobile County Sheriff’s Office. A judge then sets bond, which determines whether and under what conditions a defendant can be released while the case is pending.

Felony cases such as first-degree robbery generally go before a grand jury, which decides whether there is enough evidence for an indictment. If an indictment is issued, the case moves to Mobile County Circuit Court for arraignment, where the defendant enters a plea, and then toward a plea agreement or trial. The Mobile County District Attorney’s Office handles prosecution of state criminal cases in the county.

Police have not announced whether any additional charges are expected or whether anyone else is being sought in connection with the incident.

Retail crime and the broader picture

Retail theft affects more than store owners. Losses from theft can contribute to higher prices, reduced store hours and additional security measures such as locked display cases. Law enforcement agencies in Alabama and elsewhere have increasingly worked with retailers to share information and identify people suspected of repeated or organized thefts.

At the same time, police across the region have stressed that any incident involving a weapon is treated as a serious threat to public safety, regardless of the value of the merchandise involved. In this case, what began as a theft call at a busy shopping center led to a felony charge carrying the possibility of decades in prison.

How to report information

Anyone with information about the incident at the McGowan Park store, or who was shopping there shortly after 12:30 p.m. on Nov. 10 and saw something relevant, is encouraged to contact the Mobile Police Department. Retailers and shoppers who witness suspected thefts are encouraged to report them to police rather than attempting to stop the person themselves.