CHAMBLEE, Ga. — Investigators say a would-be shoplifter started shooting inside a Walmart, which led to a deadly confrontation with police.
Channel 2 Action News was LIVE at the scene on Thursday as police investigated the chaotic scene.
Shoppers who stopped by the store on Friday told Channel 2’s Tom Regan that what happened just the day before was a little nerve-racking.
“I’m just worried. I’m worried for everyone. Every parent, every family coming to shop. It’s scary to see,” shopper Mina Pasha said. “I just think it’s crazy.”
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation said officers responded on Thursday to a call about an active shoplifter in the electronics section of the Chamblee store.
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They said the suspect, identified as Travis Harris, 29, was armed with a gun and fired a shot after getting into a fight with officers attempting to detain him.
No one in the store was hurt.
Harris then ran from the store to the parking lot of an apartment complex across the street and was confronted by more police officers.
They told him to drop his gun.
“Rather than following the commands of the officer, he confronted the officers and brandished a firearm, and unfortunately, was shot by them, and unfortunately perished as a result of it,” Chamblee Police Chief Michael Dieppa said.
One of the officers suffered a minor injury and was treated at the scene.
Regular shoppers at Walmart were stunned by what happened.
“That’s not very reassuring for me to go into this store right now,” shopper Darena Johnson told Regan.
The GBI will soon be looking over the police body camera video of the officers involved.
Those officers are currently on administrative leave, which is normal protocol in an incident like this.
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