CHARLOTTE, N.C. _ A man was shot and killed Monday around 6 p.m. in the Walmart on Bryton Town Center Drive in Huntersville, N.C., police said.
Investigators announced late Monday in a Facebook post that a suspect was in custody, along with "several people" who were arrested at the store "due to an altercation."
It was not clear if the altercation was connected to the shooting.
"At this time there is no reason for the community to feel unsafe as we believe all responsible parties have been taken into custody," said the Facebook post.
Huntersville Police Chief Cleveland Spruill said he couldn't estimate how many customers were in the store when shots were fired in the aisles near the produce section.
"I think the official answer to that would be 'a lot,' " he said at a press conference.
A police officer was doing a routine security check at the store "when he heard gunshots ... and took an individual into custody," said a police Facebook post.
"It's very uncommon for that to happen," Spruill said. "We don't have shootings inside of any retail store."
Right after the shooting, the store was locked down so officers could talk to witnesses and anyone who might be involved, Spruill said. Officers got contact information from store customers before allowing them to leave, he said.
One man who said he was in the store at the time of the shooting told the Observer's news partner WBTV that other customers screamed and ran for cover after hearing gunshots.
Denise Burton told WSOC that she and her daughter were in the store when gunfire erupted.
"I don't want to be a sitting duck, so as soon as I saw the coast was clear, I just wanted to get my daughter out of there," Burton told the station.
Walmart released a statement on the incident, reported Fox 46: "We are deeply saddened by what has happened. We are thankful for the quick actions by the Huntersville Police Department and their arrest of those believed responsible for this crime. We are working closely with law enforcement. Since this is an active investigation, we will refer additional questions to them."
