Nov 20 (Reuters) – At least one person was killed and three people were wounded on Monday in a shooting at a Walmart store in Beavercreek, Ohio, WHIO television reported, citing its reporters at the scene, as witnesses told media that a man opened fire with an assault rifle.
Three patients from the shooting are being treated at a nearby trauma center, a hospital spokesman said.
Beavercreek police said they responded to the shooting and there was no longer a threat to the public. Beavercreek is a town of about 46,000 people just east of Dayton.
The building was cleared and secured and “there is no active threat at this time,” police said on social media platform X, without releasing any details about possible victims.
Pictures of the scene showed a phalanx of police cars with their lights flashing had descended on the store.
“I was literally just shopping for Thanksgiving stuff and this guy just walked by me with an assault rifle and started shooting,” one woman said in a video posted on social media, adding that she could not determine , whether someone was injured or killed.
“I ran … He shot 10 times … I’m so lucky to be alive,” she said tearfully.
Another witness on social media described the shooter as a “tall, young white guy” carrying an army bag.
“My nerves are shot right now,” she said.
WHIO and the Dayton Daily News cited witnesses with similar accounts.
Soin Medical Center in Beavercreek received three patients, said Catherine Morris, a spokeswoman for parent company Kettering Health.
Walmart directed all inquiries to law enforcement.
“We are devastated by what has happened at our Beavercreek, Ohio store. This remains a developing situation and we are working closely with investigators on the scene,” the retail giant said in a statement.
Police said they would release more information as it became available.
Report by Daniel Trotta. Editing by Gerry Doyle
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