A large police presence was seen at the Meijer store on Sunset Drive in Waukesha, Wisconsin, on Thursday evening. Sources have reported that there was an officer-involved shooting at the East Sunset Drive store on July 30, according to WISN.
Waukesha Police Department, the Waukesha County Sheriff's Office and the Wisconsin State Patrol responded to the scene. Shoppers were also seen leaving the store as officers secured the area, according to Fox News.
Authorities have not officially confirmed the circumstances surrounding the incident, and investigators have yet to identify the person who was shot. No information has been released regarding injuries to officers or members of the public.
Witnesses at the scene described a tense situation before gunfire erupted. Several shoppers told FOX6 Milwaukee they saw a person carrying a knife, followed by an altercation that ended with police firing shots.
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What happened at the Meijer store?
The incident unfolded at the Meijer supermarket on Sunset Drive, one of Waukesha's busiest retail locations. Emergency vehicles quickly surrounded the area.
{{/usCountry}}The incident unfolded at the Meijer supermarket on Sunset Drive, one of Waukesha's busiest retail locations. Emergency vehicles quickly surrounded the area.
{{/usCountry}}Witnesses described a chaotic scene inside the store as shoppers fled after hearing what they believed were gunshots. Several shoppers told local media they heard multiple loud pops before police rushed into the building.
"I was actually getting ready to check out, and I heard three pops, and I knew right away that they sounded a lot like gunshots," shopper Susan Phipps told WISN 12 News. She said she first heard a disturbance toward the back of the store before the apparent gunfire.
Another witness recounted what her boyfriend experienced while shopping inside.
"He was shopping, and he said he was in the cheese section, and a guy with a white-painted face came across from him. He had a gun in his hand. They made eye contact, and then that's the exact moment when SWAT came in and took him out," she told WISN 12. She added that her boyfriend did not hear any shots being fired during that encounter.
Investigation underway as officials withhold details
Video from local television stations showed numerous police vehicles parked outside while customers exited the building. Some shoppers were later allowed to return inside, suggesting that authorities had secured portions of the scene.
Waukesha Alerts reported that multiple victims required urgent medical attention and that two suspects had been shot by police.
Another X user, Steve, wrote, “Waukesha, WI suspect called 911 saying he had a 6 inch in knife and 2 hostages in the Meijer grocery store 801 e sunset. The suspect wanted to talk to a hostage negotiator. The suspect then started running from police in the store. The suspect stabbed an innocent person and was shot by police.”
However, authorities have not verified those claims, and no official confirmation has been provided regarding the number of suspects or casualties.
Officials have also not identified anyone involved or confirmed whether the incident began inside or outside the Meijer store.
The investigation remains active, and authorities are expected to provide additional information once preliminary facts have been verified.