1 dead, 14 injured in shooting at Kroger grocery store near Memphis: police

0


[ad_1]

One person was killed and 14 others were injured in a shooting at a Kroger grocery store in Collierville, Tennessee, near Memphis, authorities said.

The suspected shooter also died of a gunshot wound he apparently self-inflicted, police said.

Authorities are investigating the shooting as a possible incident of workplace violence, ABC News has learned. Kroger officials did not immediately respond to questions from ABC News about the alleged gunman’s employment status.

Police said there were “very serious” injuries among those taken to hospital. At least 14 patients visited local hospitals. Five of those patients are in critical condition, while one has been discharged, hospital staff confirmed to ABC News.

One victim was not shot but suffered an anxiety attack, police said.

The family identified the killed victim as Olivia King, 70, who they said had gone to church for daily mass Thursday morning before shopping at the store.

“Our family is devastated by this senseless act of violence. We ask you to pray for the rest of the soul of our mother, Olivia,” one of her sons, Wes King, told ABC News. “We also ask everyone to pray for all the families and friends affected by today’s events, as well as God’s mercy for the shooter and his family. Thank you.”

All 44 store workers at the time of the shooting have been found, Collierville Police Department chief Dale Lane said at a press briefing Thursday night, noting that the crime scene was “significant”.

Some hid in freezers and locked offices when gunfire erupted around 1:30 p.m. local time, police said. An employee fled to the roof and was escorted to safety by the police.

Brignetta Dickerson, a cashier, told WATN, a subsidiary of Memphis ABC, that she ended up in a back room with customers. The cashier said the shooter entered by shooting, hitting an employee in the head, a customer in the stomach and an employee in the cheek. She said the gunman then left and continued to open fire.

“All of a sudden I went through the front desk… and here he was right behind us and started shooting and he kept shooting and shooting and shooting,” she told WATN.

Tawana French said she was heading for the Kroger on Thursday afternoon when she encountered people, including children, running out of the store.

“A fraction of a second later I hear gunshots,” French told Linsey Davis in an ABC News Live Prime interview Thursday night. “I ran, ran, ran. Before I could get to my car, which wasn’t very far at all, I heard more gunshots. Quick succession, just pow, pow, pow, pow , pow. “

“I just wanted to get to a safe place,” said French, who immediately got into his car and drove away.

Employee Jean Prost said she was working in the produce section at the back of the store when she heard five loud noises that she initially thought were the sound of a coworker popping balloons.

“I was like ‘My God, she breaks a lot of balloons.’ And I looked up and saw people running, and I thought, ‘Oh, something’s going on or they wouldn’t be running,’ “said Prost.

Prost rushed through a side door and rushed to the back of the building with a customer, finding a “little corner of bricks” in which to hide. The shots were so loud that she was sure the shooter was shooting her gun outside, she said.

“I’m like ‘There’s nowhere to hide.’ You’re just in the open and you’re at his mercy and he might just shoot you, “Prost said. “I was so scared I couldn’t even run.”

Police did not have a breakdown on how many victims were employees.

The suspected gunman’s car remained in the store’s parking lot, police said. Resources were mobilized to inspect the vehicle safely. Police plan to execute search warrants in several locations, but Lane was unable to release any information on the location.

There are no additional threats at the moment, he said.

“This situation is going to create fear, but we are a resilient community,” Lane said.

Collierville is approximately 30 miles from Memphis.

Memphis Police noted his officers help secure the scene. The FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are also at the scene.

A spokesperson for Kroger said in a statement: “The entire Kroger family offers their thoughts, prayers and support to the individuals and families of the victims during this difficult time.”

“We are cooperating with local law enforcement, who have secured the store and parking lot. The store will remain closed while the police investigation continues, and we have launched advisory services for our associates,” the statement continued. .

ABC News’ Jack Date, Luke Barr, Aaron Katersky, Will McDuffie, Nick Cirone and Kendall Coughlin contributed to this report.


[ad_2]

Share.

Leave A Reply