Off-Duty Police Officer Opened Fire at Costco

The officer was treated for minor injuries
By Newser Editors and Wire Services
Posted Jun 15, 2019 4:00 PM CDT

An off-duty Los Angeles police officer discharged his firearm during a Costco shootout Friday evening that killed one person and injured three others, the AP reports. It was not immediately clear whether the unidentified officer was the only person who fired shots inside the Southern California store Friday night or if another person also opened fire or had a weapon. Corona Police officer Tobias Kouroubacalis said Saturday he could not confirm if there was more than one shooter and said no one was in custody following the shooting that prompted a stampede of frightened shoppers to flee the store east of Los Angeles and seek cover inside. Witnesses said they saw a man with a Mohawk haircut arguing with someone near a freezer section when shots rang out at least six times.

The man involved in the argument was killed, Corona police Lt. Jeff Edwards says. The injured officer was treated for minor injuries and released from a hospital. Corona police did not disclose details of what led to the shooting but witnesses said there was an altercation. Shoppers and employees described terror and chaos when shots rang out shortly before 8 p.m. Friday and police swarmed the store. Shrieks from inside the store were heard on video recorded by shopper Nikki Tate, who had stopped by with her daughter to pick up steaks and lobsters for Father's Day. Tate said Saturday she was by the meat section when she heard "about six or seven shots." In the video, her daughter says, "Mommy, we need to go."

(More shooting stories.)

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