Suspect dies after police respond to call at Walmart in Richland

RICHLAND, Miss. (WLBT) – A suspect is dead after police responded to a Walmart in Richland where investigators say a customer pulled a gun on an employee late Wednesday evening. Officers arrived, shooting and killing the armed suspect.

Police said the store was filled with people doing their Christmas and grocery shopping.

There are many details we don’t know, but according to our statewide news partner, WLBT, it was around 5:45 yesterday when police got a call about a hostage situation at Walmart.

Witnesses on the scene said a female got into a confrontation with a worker in the customer service department.

When Richland police arrived to try and defuse the situation, shots were fired. A female was shot.

One witness described what he saw.

“Went to the Walmart in Brandon. They didn’t have what I was looking for. Let’s go come over here. I said Do you see the lights while the traffic stops up there but the more I got in the parking lot the more I realized was something serious. It’s horrible. I mean somebody lost a loved one here at Christmas. I mean, you don’t get over that,” said James Fields, a shopper.

“I just couldn’t imagine. It’s devastating for all parties involved officers, everybody that was involved in this situation, you know, with the Christmas season coming around, you know, mental health is a big deal because of the stress involved in the Christmas season. So it’s very devastating for, you know, at Christmas time,” said Chief Nick McLendon, Richland Police Department.

The victim’s name has not been released at this time. The coroner’s office is still in the process of notifying family members. Walmart closed down after the fatal shooting. No word on when the store will reopen.

We are told the officer involved in the shooting did not receive any injuries. The state Bureau of investigation has now taken the lead on this case.

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