An early morning dispute inside a Las Vegas Walmart turned deadly Tuesday after police say a man pulled out a firearm and shot another person before being confronted and fatally shot by a responding police officer.
The incident unfolded shortly after the store opened, prompting a large emergency response and forcing customers and employees to flee the building.
Police Respond to Reports of Fight Inside Store
According to the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD), officers were dispatched at about 6 a.m. to the Walmart located in the 5100 block of Boulder Highway in east Las Vegas.
Police said emergency dispatchers received reports that several individuals were involved in a physical altercation inside the store.
As the first officer arrived, the situation escalated rapidly.
Officer Fires After Suspect Exits With Gun
During a news briefing, an LVMPD captain said the responding officer heard what appeared to be a gunshot from inside the Walmart.
Moments later, an unidentified man walked out of the store carrying a firearm.
Believing there was an immediate threat, the officer fired his weapon, striking the suspect. The man died at the scene despite emergency response efforts.
Authorities have not yet publicly identified the deceased suspect.
Shooting Victim Found Inside Walmart
After securing the suspect, officers entered the store and located another man suffering from a gunshot wound.
Police said the victim had been shot during the confrontation inside the Walmart before officers arrived.
Emergency medical personnel treated the injured man at the scene before transporting him to a local hospital, where he remains in critical condition.
Investigators believe the victim and the suspect were acquainted before the shooting, leading authorities to conclude the incident was not a random act of violence.
Investigators Working to Determine What Led to Violence
Police said the shooting began after a physical altercation involving multiple people inside the store.
However, investigators have not yet determined exactly how many individuals were involved in the fight.
Officials said detectives are continuing to examine surveillance footage, interview witnesses, and determine how everyone involved was connected.
Authorities also said they are still trying to establish the relationships between all of the people who participated in the altercation.
Witnesses Describe Panic Inside the Store
Customers who were shopping at the time described a chaotic and frightening scene as gunfire erupted.
One shopper, Christopher Goodloe, said he had stopped by the Walmart to buy Tylenol before going on his morning walk when the violence unfolded.
He described arriving to what he called an unbelievable scene and said it was unlike anything he had experienced in more than three decades of living in the area.
Another customer told local television reporters that the shooting was especially alarming because many families regularly shop at that Walmart. She said she visits the store frequently and never expected such an incident to happen there.
Domestic Dispute Theory Remains Unconfirmed
Some witnesses told local media they had heard the confrontation may have stemmed from a domestic dispute involving people who knew one another.
According to one shopper, customers were saying that a woman’s boyfriend allegedly came to the store and became involved in a physical confrontation before shots were fired.
Police have not confirmed those claims.
When asked whether the shooting was connected to a domestic dispute, the LVMPD captain said investigators are still working to determine the relationships among everyone involved and have not reached any conclusions.
Investigation Continues
The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department continues to investigate the shooting, including what caused the altercation, how many people were involved, and the events leading up to the exchange of gunfire.
No additional information about the identities of the suspect or the injured victim has been released, and authorities have not announced any further arrests as the investigation remains ongoing.
