There Are Two Fewer Shoplifters in Charlotte

I'm not sure I'd describe this story as tragically as the AP writer does:

Amid heavy downpours, a mother and daughter suspected of shoplifting at a Charlotte coat store ran into a swollen, fast-moving stream Friday night. Police found the mother’s body at the bottom of the creek Friday, and now it is being reported that search crews have found the body of her 16-year-old daughter Saturday.

The torrential rains caused flash flooding, swamped drivers and forced residents to evacuate neighborhoods. Crews rescued motorists and residents by boat, and were searching the stream for the other shoplifting suspect.

“Tragically, today we had some people who were caught in very dangerous water conditions,” Fire Department Capt. Rob Brisley said.

Police identified the dead woman as Gracie Nell Johnson, 43, and her daughter Rihanna Johnson, 16. Johnson and two others were at a Burlington Coat Factory in the city when a store employee called police to report shoplifting, according to a statement from police. NBC Charlotte affiliate newscast on the discovery of Gracie Johnson’s body Friday night:

One of the trio was taken into custody, while Johnson and her daughter ran. A store employee chased them, and all three plunged into a creek near the shopping center. The worker made it out, but Johnson and her daughter were swept away.

Gracie Johnson’s ankle bracelet lead police to her body.

“It’s tragic when you go to many, many calls and save many, many lives that you have a call where you can‘t save a person’s life,” Brisley said.’

If they hadn't been shoplifting they wouldn't have had to flee. If this event is tragic, it's of their own making.