Texas Wal-Mart store attacker shot dead, hostages safe: Police

A suspect has been shot and is apparently dead after officers responded today to a reported shooting inside a Wal-Mart store in Amarillo, Texas, police said.

An armed man who held two people hostage at a Wal-Mart store in Amarillo, Texas, on Tuesday was shot and killed by officers, while the hostages in the incident were unharmed, police said.

A statement from the city of Amarillo said emergency officials “are on the scene of an active shooter incident” (AP Photo)

Amarillo police described the case in the Texas panhandle city as workplace-related violence and said the suspect was shot by its SWAT unit.

The man fired a shot when he entered the store and took two people hostage. The three then moved to an office inside the store, said deputy danny Alexander, a spokesperson for the Randall County Sheriff’s Office.

Police were working to find out more about the suspect, who has not yet been named.

There were no reports of anyone else being injured in the incident, which triggered a scare two days after a man who reportedly pledged allegiance to the Islamic State group killed 49 people at a gay nightclub in Florida before being shot dead.

“All customers and our two associates who were held hostage are safe. This was a very difficult situation and we are thankful for the quick response from law enforcement,” said Deisha Barnett, a spokesperson for Wal-Mart.

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