Police said the Texas suspect was carrying a handgun with a drum magazine before the fatal shooting in Strongsville.
STRONGSVILLE, Ohio — A Costco employee was fatally shot Saturday evening outside a suburban Cleveland store after police said he confronted a Texas man trying to enter with a gun, leading to a murder charge and a $5 million bond.
The victim was identified as Randolph E. Corrigan, 61, of Cleveland, a Costco employee who worked at the Royalton Road store. Police identified the suspect as Christian M. Bryant, 22, of Fort Worth, Texas. The shooting turned a busy weekend shopping trip into a homicide investigation and moved into Berea Municipal Court on Monday, when Bryant appeared by video and was ordered held on a high bond while detectives prepared the case for a Cuyahoga County grand jury.
Officers were called to the Costco at about 5:43 p.m. April 25 after reports of gunfire near the entrance. Police said they found Corrigan with multiple gunshot wounds as bystanders tried to help him. Corrigan was taken to MetroHealth Medical Center, where he died. Investigators said the confrontation began when Bryant walked toward the store with a gun and a drum magazine visible. Corrigan approached him and tried to stop him from entering, police said. During Bryant’s court appearance Monday, he said, “This man approached me with a knife,” before the judge stopped him from saying more until he spoke with a lawyer.
Court records and police reports described a fast-moving encounter near the front doors. Witnesses told investigators Bryant had a drum magazine sticking out of one pocket as he neared the store. Police said Bryant pulled out a black semiautomatic handgun during the confrontation. Investigators said Corrigan then produced a pocketknife. Authorities said Bryant fired at least one shot, paused briefly and fired several more shots after Corrigan fell. Investigators recovered 13 spent .40-caliber shell casings at the scene. Officers also recovered a Springfield XD-40 handgun with a drum magazine containing 37 rounds and one round in the chamber. Police have not said what brought Bryant to the store or whether he had any permit connected to the weapon.
The store sits in a busy commercial area of Strongsville, a Cuyahoga County suburb southwest of Cleveland. Police tape surrounded part of the property after the shooting, and evidence markers were placed near the entrance as investigators worked at the scene. Reports said Corrigan was conscious at first and able to answer questions, but his condition worsened before he was taken to the hospital. The Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner’s Office identified him as Randy Corrigan. Reports said he suffered seven or eight wounds, including injuries to his chest, abdomen and arm. Family members said Corrigan loved his job, his co-workers and his family. A fundraiser created in his name described him as funny, generous and selfless.
Bryant was arraigned Monday in Berea Municipal Court on a murder charge under Ohio law. Judge Sean Kilbane set bond at $5 million after prosecutors and police raised concerns that Bryant lived in Texas and had been traveling for work. A detective told the court Bryant was a truck driver passing through Ohio and had a prior criminal record, though he was not on probation or parole. Police said the case will be presented to a Cuyahoga County grand jury at a later date and that additional charges could be considered. Bryant remained in custody after the hearing. His next court steps depend on the grand jury review and any indictment returned in Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court.
At the scene, bystanders began first aid before police and paramedics arrived. One person pressed on Corrigan’s chest wounds while wearing work gloves, according to reports. Officers then used chest seals and a tourniquet before paramedics took over. A family representative who appeared in court said Corrigan’s relatives wanted “justice to be served.” His niece, Holly, described him as loving, funny and selfless, saying he was “always there” for family. Relatives said Corrigan had moved back to Ohio and helped care for an 86-year-old family member. Costco had not issued a detailed public statement about the shooting as of the latest reports.
The investigation remained open Tuesday as detectives reviewed witness accounts, physical evidence and the events that led to the shooting. The next major step is the grand jury presentation, though officials had not announced a date for that proceeding.
Author note: Last updated April 28, 2026.