In a tragic incident at a Walmart in Beavercreek, Ohio, a gunman opened fire, resulting in four injuries and one fatality. The investigation is underway as authorities work to unravel the circumstances surrounding the shooting.
According to updates shared by the Beavercreek Police Department on social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter), the assailant entered the Walmart around 8:35 p.m. on Monday night and began firing a gun. The victims, totaling four, were swiftly transported to nearby hospitals, with their conditions remaining unknown as of 11 p.m. Police clarified that the shooter succumbed to an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound, emphasizing that responding officers did not discharge their firearms.
The Beavercreek Police Department assured the public that there was no active threat as of 11 p.m. on Monday. Collaborating with law enforcement agencies, including the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms, the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation, and the FBI, authorities are diligently conducting the investigation.
Walmart responded to the tragic incident in a statement to PEOPLE, expressing heartbreak and stating that they are working closely with investigators at the scene. The company urged all inquiries to be directed to local law enforcement. The police, via X, conveyed thoughts and prayers to the victims and their families affected by the “horrific tragedy.”
Notably, this marks the second shooting at a Walmart in the U.S. within just over 24 hours. The previous incident occurred in the parking lot of a Walmart store in Anchorage, Alaska, where two individuals were shot and killed on Sunday night. The circumstances of the Anchorage shooting are under investigation, with authorities considering it an isolated incident, and no arrests have been made.
Beavercreek Police Capt. Scott Molnar, speaking to reporters, emphasized that the investigation is in its early stages, with no motive or additional details known at this time. The community mourns the loss and awaits further information as authorities work to piece together the events leading to this devastating incident.