Horrifying video of police officer shooting at car has people outraged saying she should be fired

A police officer has been widely criticized for discharging her gun at a pair of shoplifting suspects.

Officer Kayleigh Cooper of the Cranston Police Department in Rhode Island responded to a call about two suspected shoplifters on Sunday, 16 June.

The reported theft is said to have taken place at Garden City Center, with Cooper going on to encounter Massachusetts couple Michael Campagna and Megan O’Brien in a car.

Cooper approached the car and asked Campagna to turn off its engine. When he failed to do so, the police officer - who has been on the force for three years - proceeded to try and open the car door and asked him to exit the vehicle.

“What are you doing? What is this about?” he asked as she did so.

Cooper repeated her request for Campagna to step out of the car when O'Brien said from the passenger seat to 'drive'.

"Drive. Drive. Drive," she repeated as the vehicle took off.

"You're going to run me over," exclaimed Cooper before going on to shoot once at the car. Fortunately, no one was hit by the gunfire.

From the video, it's unclear if the officer was actually struck, but Cranston police say that Cooper's foot was run over in the ordeal.

The man refused to get out of the car. (Cranston PD)

She was treated at Kent County Hospital for injuries, the Boston Globe reports.

A few days after the brief encounter between the suspects and Cooper, they were caught in Massachusetts.

The pair are now facing multiple charges in Rhode Island, including felony assault, assault on a police officer, aiding and abetting assault, aiding and abetting reckless driving, and conspiracy. O’Brien will also be charged with felony shoplifting and Campagna with misdemeanour shoplifting.

Meanwhile, Cooper's firearm usage is being investigated by Cranston police, state police, and the attorney general’s office.

As of Friday (21 June), the Cranston police and attorney general’s office said the investigation was 'substantially complete' and proceeded to release Cooper's bodycam footage.

Officer Cooper grabbed her gun as the car drove off. (Cranston PD)

In the wake of doing so, people have shared their thoughts on whether Cooper was wrong to shoot her gun or not.

One person on X said: "Suspected shoplifters. There was absolutely no need to discharge her firearm."

"She needs to be fired immediately," suggested another, as a third went on: "Not a justified used of deadly force at all, should be terminated immediately."

Some others were less critical, however. An X user replied to the now-viral clip: "[They] should have complied."

Another wrote: "The dude started rolling away with the door open. Then she drew her firearm. I am no expert, but isn't that considered a threat to the police officer?"

UNILAD has contacted Cranston Police for comment on the matter.