One person was killed and another was wounded in a shooting at a Fred Meyer grocery store in Richland, Washington, Monday morning, police said.
Richland police officers responded to the Fred Meyer at 101 Wellsian Way just after 11 a.m.
The injured victim was transferred to a hospital and remains in critical condition. Richland Police Captain Chris Lee later said the victim was undergoing surgery.
Police said the suspect is a middle-aged White male armed with a handgun. They said he remains at large is considered “armed and dangerous.”
A Fred Meyer location in Richland, Washington.
(Google Maps)
It was not clear whether the suspect left the store on foot or in a vehicle, Lee said.
Police and sheriff’s deputies from across the Tri-Cities area in Eastern Washington were called to help.
Lee told reporters that the suspect and the deceased victim had some sort of “interaction” before the shooting, though it’s not clear whether they knew each other. He said “multiple” shots were fired.
Authorities stage outside a Fred Meyer grocery store after a fatal shooting at the business on Wellsian Way in Richland, Wash., Monday, Feb. 7, 2022.
(Jennifer King/The News Tribune via AP)
The suspect’s identity has not been released, but Lee said he has had “contact” with police in the past.
Traffic in the surrounding area remained closed off while police investigated.
Area schools were put on a “non-critical lockdown,” during the investigation.
6 PEOPLE IN A NORTH CAROLINA HOTEL TAKEN TO A NEARBY HOSPITAL FOR SIGNS OF OVERDOSES
A district spokesperson told Fox News that the district put schools on lockdown as a “precaution step” upon recommendation from the police.
RSD later said Richland fire and police departments requested the district provide two school buses to assist with efforts to reunite employees and customers who were inside the store with their families.
Customers and employees are guided out of a Fred Meyer grocery store after a fatal shooting at the business on Wellsian Way in Richland, Wash., Monday, Feb. 7, 2022.
(Jennifer King/The News Tribune via AP)
The district said schools will be on their normal release schedules and school buses would run their routes as scheduled with additional staffing outside to supervise.
Richland Police Department will have officers visible in the communication “out of an abundance of caution,” the district said.
Fred Meyer employees and customers were being escorted to the parking lot while officers canvassed the store.
FLORIDA CYCLIST FALLS TO HER DEATH FROM PALM BEACH DRAWBRIDGE
Richland police were asking the public to avoid the area.
The department has released a photo of the suspect and has asked the public to call the non-emergency dispatch at 509-628-0333 if they recognize the individual.
No information was provided about possible injuries or suspects arrested.
The Kennewick Police Department released surveillance footage of the “suspect and suspect vehicle” in relation to the shooting.
Kennewick PD later clarified that the white truck included in the tweet was not involved in the shooting.
SERIES OF FENTANYL OVERDOSES IN ST. LOUIS SPARKS PUBLIC SAFETY WARNING
A Fred Meyer spokesperson said the company is “deeply saddened” by the shooting.
“The entire Fred Meyer family offers our thoughts, prayers, and support to all affected individuals and families during this difficult time,” the spokesperson said in a statement provided to Fox News.
“We are cooperating with local law enforcement, who have secured the store and parking lot. The store will remain closed while the police investigation continues and we have initiated counseling services for our associates,” the spokesperson said.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Richland is about 200 miles southeast of Seattle.
